Review of The Soloist (2009) by Anders B — 22 Jun 2010
Joe Wright's film actually has a lot of things going for it, including two actors at the height of their skills. Jamie Foxx particularly gives an interesting performance without overplaying it (and believe me this role called for overplaying it).
It's also a moving film for sure. It challenges us to think about mental illness and homelessness, and specifically how and why those two conditions go together. But it also engages with the how and why we help people, and the very act of charity and friendship as well.
Steve Lopez has to confront the selfishness at the heart of his philanthropy. If this sounds like a lot, it is; the film feels overstuffed at times. However, in the end it's the little moments that work the best in this film, as some of the big "message moments" fall a bit flat.
The slick, Hollywood-glossy cinematography at times seems to clash with the subject matter, but I'm still mulling over whether the stylistic choices actually challenge our preconceptions over what an "important" movie should look like, or merely pander to mainstream expectations.
This review of The Soloist (2009) was written by Anders B on 22 Jun 2010.
The Soloist has generally received positive reviews.
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