Review of The Soloist (2009) by Deb S — 05 Jun 2010

This film tells the true story of how a reporter for the Los Angeles Times (played by ROBERT DOWNEY JR.) whose life is changed when he chances to meet Jamie Foxx, writes about his story, and his many efforts to try to make life easier for him-- by encouraging him to return to playing the cello, to find a safer and better place to live and to interact with other homeless people.

JAMIE FOXX does a fantastic job playing a homeless guy in Los Angeles who was once a gifted musician at Julliard who later developed various schizophrenic & emotional problems and is now homeless. He portrays to near perfection the anguish and innocence of this disabling mental illness.

The tale is so moving and heart-wrenching that you will need a hand to hold and some tissues. It tackles the epidemic of homelessness, mental illness, abject poverty, and music with no sugar coating. As the two main characters, Downey, Jr. and especially Foxx are no less than brilliant and both deliver compelling performances.

(My only gripe with the movie was Catherine Keener as Mary Weston playing Lopez's ex-wife; every time I looked at her, it brought back raw memories of her performance in An American Crime, a movie that totally freaked me out but then again that is just ME.).