A newspaper journalist discovers a homeless musical genius and tries to improve his situation.
Director:
Joe Wright
From metacritic.com
Get gifting with IMDb's Holiday Gift Guide, curated with the entertainment lover in mind!
Related News
-
Susannah Grant To Direct ABC Drama Pilot ‘Until The Wedding’
15 February 2019 | Deadline -
Netflix Expands Physical Production Division With Three New Hires (Exclusive)
10 October 2018 | Variety -
Amazon Prime Video schedule: Here’s what is coming and leaving in August 2018
31 July 2018 | Gold Derby
User Lists
Related lists from IMDb users
Share this Rating
Title: The Soloist (2009)
Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below.
See how director Joe Wright uses his signature tracking shots to set up a visual narrative for his films, including Atonement, The Soloist, and Hanna.
1 win & 3 nominations.
See more awards »
Learn more
More Like This
The Judge
(2014)
Crime
|
Drama
Director:
David Dobkin
Stars:
Robert Downey Jr.,
Robert Duvall,
Vera Farmiga
Due Date
(2010)
Comedy
|
Drama
Director:
Todd Phillips
Stars:
Robert Downey Jr.,
Zach Galifianakis,
Michelle Monaghan
Charlie Bartlett
(2007)
Comedy
|
Drama
|
Romance
Director:
Jon Poll
Stars:
Anton Yelchin,
Robert Downey Jr.,
Hope Davis
Chef
(2014)
Adventure
|
Comedy
|
Drama
Director:
Jon Favreau
Stars:
Jon Favreau,
Robert Downey Jr.,
Scarlett Johansson
Tropic Thunder: Rain of Madness
(Video 2008)
Short
|
Comedy
Stars:
Jack Black,
Steve Coogan,
Robert Downey Jr.
Chaplin
(1992)
Biography
|
Comedy
|
Drama
Director:
Richard Attenborough
Stars:
Robert Downey Jr.,
Geraldine Chaplin,
Paul Rhys
Sherlock Holmes
(2009)
Action
|
Adventure
|
Crime
Director:
Guy Ritchie
Stars:
Robert Downey Jr.,
Jude Law,
Rachel McAdams
Tropic Thunder
(2008)
Action
|
Comedy
|
War
Director:
Ben Stiller
Stars:
Ben Stiller,
Jack Black,
Robert Downey Jr.
Biography
|
Drama
|
Romance
Director:
Steven Shainberg
Stars:
Nicole Kidman,
Robert Downey Jr.,
Ty Burrell
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
(2005)
Action
|
Comedy
|
Crime
Director:
Shane Black
Stars:
Robert Downey Jr.,
Val Kilmer,
Michelle Monaghan
Action
|
Adventure
|
Crime
Director:
Guy Ritchie
Stars:
Robert Downey Jr.,
Jude Law,
Jared Harris
Crime
|
Drama
Director:
Dito Montiel
Stars:
Robert Downey Jr.,
Rosario Dawson,
Shia LaBeouf
Edit
Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Jamie Foxx | ... | Nathaniel Ayers | |
| Robert Downey Jr. | ... | Steve Lopez | |
| Catherine Keener | ... | Mary Weston | |
| Tom Hollander | ... | Graham Claydon | |
| LisaGay Hamilton | ... | Jennifer Ayers (as Lisagay Hamilton) | |
| Nelsan Ellis | ... | David Carter | |
| Rachael Harris | ... | Leslie Bloom | |
| Stephen Root | ... | Curt Reynolds | |
| Lorraine Toussaint | ... | Flo Ayers | |
| Justin Martin | ... | Young Nathaniel | |
| Kokayi Ampah | ... | Bernie Carpenter | |
| Patrick Tatten | ... | Paul Jr. | |
| Susane Lee | ... | Marisa (as Susane E. Lee) | |
| Marcos De Silvas | ... | Mayor Villaraigosa | |
| Ilia Volok | ... | Harry Barnoff | |
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Plot Synopsis
See All (187) »
Storyline
In 2005, the only thing hurting Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez more than his face from a recent bike accident was his pressing need for story ideas. That is when he discovers Nathaniel Ayers, a mentally ill, homeless street musician who possesses extraordinary talent, even through his half-broken instruments. Inspired by his story, Lopez writes an acclaimed series of articles about Ayers and attempts to do more to help both him and the rest of the underclass of LA have a better life. However, Lopez's good intentions run headlong in the hard realities of the strength of Ayers' personal demons and the larger social injustices facing the homeless. Regardless, Lopez and Ayers must find a way to conquer their deepest anxieties and frustrations to hope for a brighter future for both of them. Written by Kenneth Chisholm (kchishol@rogers.com)
Plot Keywords:
wearing a traffic cone as a hat | reference to jascha heifetz | schizophrenia | juilliard school | facial injury |Taglines:
Life has a mind of its own See more »Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, some drug use and language | See all certifications »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
Edit
Edit
See more on IMDbPro »
See full technical specs »
Details
Language:
EnglishRelease Date:
24 April 2009 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Imagining Beethoven See more »Edit
Box Office
Budget:
$60,000,000 (estimated)Opening Weekend USA:
$9,716,458, 26 April 2009Gross USA:
$31,720,158Cumulative Worldwide Gross:
$38,332,994Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Color:
Color (DeLuxe)Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1
Edit
Construction Worker: [greeting his co-workers] Buen dia, muchachos.
Steve Lopez: [narrating] "Points West" by Steve Lopez. A construction worker in Griffith Park heard the
Steve Lopez: [swerving his bicycle to avoid a raccoon] Hey!
Steve Lopez: [continuing narration] He saw a cyclist cartwheel off his bike and slam face-first into the unforgiving asphalt of Riverside Drive.
See more »
Written by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by The Los Angeles Philharmonic
Conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
As of April 2009, Nathaniel Ayers "has a girlfriend, and is doing reasonably well", according to Steve Lopez. He has also taught himself to play the flute. See more »Goofs
Juilliard is spelled incorrectly as Julliard on his cello case. See more »Quotes
[first lines]Construction Worker: [greeting his co-workers] Buen dia, muchachos.
Steve Lopez: [narrating] "Points West" by Steve Lopez. A construction worker in Griffith Park heard the
Steve Lopez: [swerving his bicycle to avoid a raccoon] Hey!
Steve Lopez: [continuing narration] He saw a cyclist cartwheel off his bike and slam face-first into the unforgiving asphalt of Riverside Drive.
See more »
Crazy Credits
At the end of the credits, the music concludes with the sound of a cassette tape grinding to a stop, referencing Lopez's omnipresent recorder. See more »Soundtracks
Symphony No. 9, Op. 123, Mvmt. IIIWritten by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by The Los Angeles Philharmonic
Conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen
See more »
Frequently Asked Questions
See more »Contribute to This Page
On IMDb TV, you can catch Hollywood hits and popular TV series at no cost. Select any poster below to play the movie, totally free!
Explore popular action and adventure titles available to stream with Prime Video.
I sometimes work clinically with schizophrenics. This film shows us the truth about working with severely mentally ill people. David, the man who runs the shelter for the homeless honestly spoke the truth with his stance that is opposite of what the Pharmaceutical Industry, most of psychiatry and the legal system try to make us believe. David was my hero in this movie.
All though the movie goes quickly over Jamie Fox's childhood trauma and losses -- it's still there, i.e. no father and the truck on fire represent some of the traumas that created his illness. Homeless people with mental illness did not come from healthy childhoods. Almost all came from repeated childhood trauma.(see New Zealand Psychologist John Read PhD and colleagues, the ACE Study from the CDC, and Charles Whitfield's book The Truth about Mental Illness, 2004).
Hollywood did not cover over the painful truths in this story. Jamie Fox's character's mother and his sister were good people and that comes through but they couldn't prevent his wounding. At the end of the film, we are told "90,000 Homeless people in Los Angeles." We walked out of the theater overwhelmed with that figure and uplifted by this true story.
If you're really interested in the truth about schizophrenia there is an excellent DVD documentary called Take These Broken Wings: Recover from Schizophrenia without Medication by Daniel Mackler