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The Soloist
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The Soloist (2009) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 78 | slideshow) Videos (see all 19)
The Soloist (2009) -- This is the theatrical trailer for The Soloist, directed by Joe Wright and starring Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey Jr.
The Soloist (2009) -- This is a clip from the movie The Soloist.
The Soloist (2009) -- Interview: Lisa Gay Hamilton "On the pride she feels being involved with the film"
The Soloist (2009) -- A Los Angeles Journalist, befriends a homeless Julliard trained musician, while looking for a new article for the paper.
The Soloist (2009) -- Trailer: #1

Overview

User Rating:
7.3/10   2,667 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 20% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Joe Wright
Writers (WGA):
Susannah Grant (screenplay)
Steve Lopez (book)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Soloist on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
24 April 2009 (USA) more
Genre:
Drama | Biography | Music more
Tagline:
Life has a mind of its own more
Plot:
A Los Angeles Journalist, befriends a homeless Julliard trained musician, while looking for a new article for the paper. full summary | full synopsis
NewsDesk:
(242 articles)
San Diego Comic-Con Schedule: Saturday, July 25
 (From Screen Rant. 11 July 2009, 2:40 PM, PDT)

Five best films of 2009 (so far)
 (From screeninglog. 10 July 2009, 9:10 PM, PDT)

User Comments:
Uplifting: Finding a Golden Needle in the Haystack of Urban Blight more

Cast

  (Credited cast)

Jamie Foxx ... Nathaniel Ayers

Robert Downey Jr. ... Steve Lopez
rest of cast listed alphabetically:

Meggan Anderson ... Flutist

Halbert Bernal ... EMT

Matt Besser ... Commuter #4

Troy Blendell ... New young editor

Jayce Bradley ... Brawling Frat Guy
Pete Brown ... Composer
Michael Bunin ... Adam Crane

Joshua Cabrera ... Teenage Musician

Ralph Cole Jr. ... Enraged Homeless Man

Ingrid Coree ... Nurse

Paul Cruz ... EMT

Marcos De Silvas ... Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa

Aurelius DiBarsanti ... Paramedic
Paul Edney ... Driver
Nelsan Ellis ... David

S. Zev Esquenazi ... Sgt. Hendrickson

Angela Featherstone ... Commuter #1
Lauren E. Gates ... Ballerina

Marissa Ghavami ... Ballerina
Artel Great ... Leon (as Artel Kayàru)

Paul Greenberg ... Commuter #2

Lejla Hadzimuratovic ... Disney Hall Patron
Justin Rodgers Hall ... Sgt. Harris

Lisa Gay Hamilton ... Jennifer (as Lisagay Hamilton)

Richard Hansen ... L.A.P.D

Rachael Harris ... Leslie

Joe Hernandez-Kolski ... EMT #1

Tom Hollander ... Graham Claydon
Pete Ilarius ... Disney Hall Patron

Catherine Keener ... Mary Weston

Edward Kiniry-Ostro ... Craig
Francesca Kortesmaki ... Twin violinist
Therese Kortesmaki ... Twin violinist
Kitty Kreidler ... Skid Row Homeless woman
Heather La Bella ... ER Doctor

Hallie Lambert ... Ballerina

Kirsten Lea ... Awards Presenter

Susane Lee ... Marisa

Lemon ... Jeremy

Wayne Lopez ... Officer Hank
Wally Lozano ... Sign Spinner

Michael Maddigan ... Brawling Frat Guy
Ricky Marciano ... Cop

Justin Martin ... Nathaniel - Age 13-16
Annie McKnight ... Linda - LAMPS Advocate

George Meyers ... Cop

Rob Nagle ... Neil
Nick Nervies ... Jennifer's son

Kai Nuuhiwa ... Brawling Frat Guy

Alejandro Patino ... Construction foreman
Palma Lawrence Reed ... ER Nurse

Stephen Root ... Curt
Franklin Ruehl ... Homeless man
Esa-Pekka Salonen ... Conductor
Jules Sanchez ... Skid Row Porta Potty Dweller

Sharon Savene ... LAPD Officer
Holly Sherman ... Juilliard student

Robyn Jean Springer ... Disney Hall patron

Janaya Sultze ... Ballerina

Jeff Sutherland ... Cowboy on Plane with Wife
Valentyna Svyatchenko ... Julliard Student

Patrick Tatten ... Paul

David Jean Thomas ... Jim Trotter
Karmyn Tyler ... Juilliard Party Guest
Ilia Volok ... Mr. Barnoff

Maggie Wagner ... Mrs. Villaraigosa

Charlie Weirauch ... Atheist

Troy Williams ... Cop - Hospital Scene
more
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
Imagining Beethoven (USA) (working title)
more
MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, some drug use and language.
Runtime:
117 min
Country:
UK | USA | France
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby Digital | SDDS | DTS
Certification:
Australia:M | USA:PG-13 (certificate #44923) | Netherlands:12 | South Korea:12 | Ireland:12A
Company:
DreamWorks SKG more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
In the scene that Nathaniel Ayers and Steve Lopez attend a rehearsal concert, all the seats are covered with canvas. This was not cinematic imagery; this is actually done in some concert halls during rehearsals to reflect a more accurate sound as if the seats were being occupied. more
Goofs:
Continuity: When Lopez pulls over in the tunnel after spotting Ayers, his car blocks the right lane. In subsequent shots, cars are seen in the background cruising through that very same lane, one even merges into it, even though Lopez's car is blocking it just a few yards ahead. more
Quotes:
Steve Lopez: I don't give a smooth fart whether or not we go. more
Movie Connections:
Featured in The 81st Annual Academy Awards (2009) (TV) more

FAQ

How much sex, violence, and profanity are in this movie?
What is the song played at the end of the Oscar Ad Commercial?
A Note Regarding Spoilers
more
39 out of 51 people found the following comment useful:-
Uplifting: Finding a Golden Needle in the Haystack of Urban Blight, 23 April 2009
10/10
Author: LAKERS34 from Los Angeles

First off, I should say that I am personally familiar with this story, having worked in downtown L.A. for the last 19 years and seeing Mr Ayers and his cello many a time around 3rd and Hill Sts. I've also read Lopez's columns in the Times for years and followed this one with interest and satisfaction. Making a film about a tale like this restores my belief in Hollywood beyond the mindless bunk it churns out year after year.

Downey Jr and Foxx play a newspaper columnist and homeless man who come together in a most unusual way. Downey is a newspaper columnist looking for something original and interesting to write about it. He finds it when he sees Foxx beautifully playing battered stringed instruments along 3rd street in downtown L.A. Foxx has been there for years but on this day grabs the eye of the columnist because the columnist himself is experiencing hardship and doubt related to his own position. He begins to write about this talented but troubled man who fills the stinky air around him with harmony. They become friends but keep in mind this is not fiction. The friendship hits many bumps that continue to this day. Nathaniel Ayers (Foxx's character) may be a brilliant, educated musician, but he suffers from bouts of schizophrenia that manifest at any time. Downey's character accepts this as it adds more intrigue to his columns. Then he accepts it on a personal level. Their friendship ultimately becomes real and meaningful. You sense that Downey's character needs the friendship even more than Foxx's homeless man does. In the end, Downey's Lopez can see the positive effect his work has brought to the plight of the homeless, yet he wonders personally how much better he has made Nathaniel...? His reflections make us think also.

Downey Jr and Foxx play their characters to near perfection and the film masterfully takes its time in developing the relationship between the two. Great to see director Joe Wright telling a contemporary tale just as effectively as he has in previous works. The film makes us wonder how many other Nathaniel Ayers are lurking out there on the streets? Life being what it is, of course we will never know. The beauty of the film is that is shows what can happen when just one Nathaniel Ayers is found after being lost for so many years. There's no sugarcoating; Ayers doesn't magically get better and rejoin mainstream society. Instead, the mainstream accepts him for what he is and what he offers and begins integrating him as best it can. This film will certainly pop up at award time next year.

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