“The Soloist” is a well-acted film dealing with the complicated subject matter of mental illness. Jamie Foxx (“Ray”) stars as Nathaniel Ayers, a troubled man living on the street, who hears voices. A reporter takes an interest in the homeless man after he hears Ayers play a broken violin. Always searching for the story behind the story, Steve Lopez (Robert Downey Jr.; “Iron Man”) investigates the man’s past and becomes a fixture in his life. Ayers proves perfect material for the newspaperman’s ongoing column. The city is enraptured with the story of this Julliard drop-out who performs classical music in the bowels of the city. When Ayers and Lopez’s relationship becomes more complicated, the reporter must decide how far he is willing to go to help this man.
Unflinchingly looking at the true life tale of this street musician, the director avoids most opportunities for sentimentality. An ongoing trend in Hollywood dramas, without making the characters more personable or their problems more comprehendible, audiences are not pulled all the way into the main character’s story. Avoiding cliché is commendable but avoiding most opportunities to personally connect with your audience is dangerous. This was the primary problem with “The Soloist.” Though Foxx and Downey, Jr. create interesting and provocative characters, the director keeps the viewer from empathizing with them. Does Ayers want help? Can he get better? What is Lopez’s motivations for helping Ayers? Is he a good man for telling Ayers story? Many of these questions do not get answered until the end and even then, not completely.
In character profiles, a viewer wants to connect with the protagonist but this filmmaker would prefer you understand Ayers on his own terms. Thus, there are scenes where the movies tries to show the viewer what its like to hear voices or “see” the music the way Ayers does. These stretch a long time and takes you out of the story’s reality. “The Soloist” is a mainstream film with some art-house sensibilities which do not quite work. A fan of classical music or someone with the patience to watch a film without seeking instant emotional gratification, may ultimately enjoy “The Soloist.” The performances here can be appreciated even if the movie does not know the best way to showcase them.
Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, some drug use and language.
