The Soloist (2009)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Joe Wright

Writers (WGA):

Susannah Grant (screenplay)
Steve Lopez (book)

Release Date:

24 April 2009 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Biography | Music

Tagline:

Life has a mind of its own

Plot:

A Los Angeles Journalist, befriends a homeless Julliard trained musician, while looking for a new article for the paper.

Plot Keywords:

Musician | Journalist | Los Angeles Times | Columnist | Musical Genius

US Showtimes:

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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

Also Known As:

Imagining Beethoven (USA) (working title)

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

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS | DTS

Certification:

Australia:M | USA:PG-13 (certificate #44923) | Netherlands:12 | South Korea:12 | Ireland:12A

Filming Locations:

Biltmore Hotel - 506 S. Grand Avenue, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

DreamWorks SKG

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.

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.

Quotes:

Steve Lopez: I don't give a smooth fart whether or not we go.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 81st Annual Academy Awards (2009) (TV)

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

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.