Nicolas F. Costoglou Joe Wright is one of the few directors who manage to surprise me every time i watch a new movie. I hadn't much interest in seeing this movie, until i heard he was involved, so i watched it and i think: The Soloist is a well told and fairly interesting drama, with a rarely used setting. I expected the photography to be good, and it was, but at first i wasn't sure about the coloring, everything looks mostly flat and down-to-earth, which is what they were going for i suppose, and it works okay with the movie.The actors are really great, Robert Downey Jr. is very good, but especially Jamie Foxx and Catherine Keener impressed me with their natural performances.The soundtrack is very much classic music the whole time, which fits the mood as well as the theme of the story.It's a nicely told little drama and your time won't be wasted...

ramsri007 'The Soloist' is one of those movies that pieces you together. I came across this title on reading Robert Downey Jr's biography. This is one of his most sincere portrayals. This is based on a book written by Steve Lopez. Downey plays Steve Lopez. The chemistry between Downey & Foxx is mystical. Both come together in the most unusual way. The movie explores one of the most debated topic; does a mentally ill person need medications to get better, is love and emotional support not way more powerful? Both characters feed off each other's friendship, making each a better person. The film puts forth a pertinent question; how many other Nathaniel Ayers lurk around, clueless and lost? Life is unpredictable. We may never truly know the answer to this question. However this movie is all about a gem found after being hidden for ever so long. This is by no means a fairy tale movie. Ayers does not get better in a jiffy. However his find, road to recovery & his attempt to refit into the society, not just helps him but Lopez too. Worth a watch. Does your heart a great good! :)

FilmBuff1994 The Soloist is a brutal movie with a poorly written storyline and a very promising cast that sadly failed to deliver.This films story and its powerful leads seemed like an easily enjoyable two hours for me,but sadly it was actually quite the opposite.It wanted to be an uplifting drama that inspired people grateful for what they have and also feel sympathy for these characters,I think it failed on both of those levels,it tries to be uplifting and inspiring much too early on in the movie,and struggles even more throughout.Robert Downey Jrs performance is not terrible,although he was certainly the movies highlight,but I was thoroughly disappointed by Jamie Foxx.He is easily one of the most talented actors in Hollywood at the moment,but fails to show any of his skills in this movie,to play a character like this Foxx needed to do his research in order to play a truly convincing man who is struggling with his mental health,but it is made very clear that Foxx didn't do this,he said his lines,and went home with his pay cheque,very disappointed by him.All in all,the Soloist is a disappointing drama with characters that I simply didn't care about and I would not recommend it to anyone. An LA journalist befriends a homeless musician and begins writing a regular column on him.Best Performance: Robert Downey Jr.

Karan Saxena The Soloist is the real life story of Los Angeles Times journalist Steve Lopez and his friendship with the homeless, mentally unstable yet exceptionally talented musician Mr. Nathaniel Ayers. Steve Lopez covers the story of how a Jilliard dropout with such exceptional music gifts ended out on the streets and while covering the story, Lopez, played by Robert Downey Jr., develops a special bond with the musician, Nathaniel, played by Jamie Foxx.The movie shows the tragic, disease-ridden and crime –afflicted world of Los Angeles streets. It shows how this world has been completely abandoned by the authorities, by the hospitals who do not care about the sick, the police who do not care about the well-being of the homeless and also by the work-oriented populace of the city who do not stop even for a second to listen to the talented musician playing Beethoven on the street.The story presents a view point of how people need to move away from the socially accepted strands of "normalcy". The movie says that one need not always think about how to "cure" a mentally challenged person but instead should just accept them for who they are and be their friends. Friendship with the journalist actually helps Nathaniel while his every step to try and fit him according to the socially accepted behavior goes in vain, to say the least.The film also deals with the power of friendship and how it has the power to make each one of us into better human beings.This is a movie for the modern mind. It definitely changes one's idea of how to deal with a mentally challenged person. Beethoven's symphonies played in the movie are delightful to listen to. The film definitely has the power to make one a better person.So, I recommend everyone to watch this film.