Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #110 in Movie
• Released on: 2009-11-25
• Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Running time: 117 minutes

Customer Reviews

No One Goes Solo
This movie is primarily about the relationship between the weary journalist and the homeless artist, and Downey and Foxx give great performances. It sensitively deals with issues of charity and friendship in ways that challenge conventional ideals, and I liked the fact that in the end, Downey's character seems content to stop playing the role of "rescuer" and instead lets events play out to their natural conclusion. In fact, Foxx's character, for all the mental distress he faces, seems more grounded at times than Downey's character, and you might wonder whether the soloist refers to the cello virtuoso or the journalist who seems to learn what it means to be a friend rather than going solo through life. In that respect, it's a show that operates effectively on more than a superficial level.

Now if they could just have spent a little more time coaching Foxx on his fake cello-playing skills...alas.

On Blu-Ray: The Soloist
Directed by Joe Wright
Starring Robert Downey Jr, Jamie Foxx, Steven Root, Catherine Keener

I saw a news story about Nathaniel Ayers, a homeless musician, and his friendship with Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez. It was fascinating. So, would a film about this be as interesting? Or, would I just prefer seeing a documentary about the story? Let's find out. The Soloist: Blu Ray was recently released on Blu Ray by Dreamworks.

The Movie

Steve Lopez (Robert Downey Jr.) is a busy man. He is a writer for the Los Angeles Times, and he is trying to balance a career, an ex wife and all the other life responsibilities we all have.

Enter into Steve's life Nathaniel Ayers (Jamie Foxx). Steve discovers Nathaniel, a homeless man, playing a two stringed violin in the park one day. He is fascinated by him immediately. He talks to Nathaniel and discovers that he is a Julliard trained musician. It is Nathaniel's struggles with schizophrenia and his overall mental health that made him drop out of school and live on the streets.

The two enter into an unusual and cautious friendship and Steve is inspired to chronicle the developing relationship in a series of articles in his paper. But, as life is unpredictable, who knows what lies ahead for both men?

The trailers for this movie were insufferable and poorly executed. If you were to judge this movie based on those, a viewer could feel that he was about to witness a Lifetime "never mind the acting, here is the message" type of film. The Soloist is definitely not that film.

The performances shine here. As expected, Robert Downey Jr. turns in another fine performance and Foxx continues to surprise film fans with his impressive emotional range as an actor. He holds his own in scenes with Downey, not a small feat.

Also noteworthy are the performances by the always fantastic Catherine Keener and fans of the HBO show True Blood, be on the lookout for a standout performance by Nelsan Ellis (Lafayette). I think he is an actor on the rise.

While only a few scenes might be a bit over dramatic, overall the story told resonates with emotional truth and the direction is tasteful and straightforward.

I found myself engrossed in the film and am very happy I didn't just judge this film on the inadequate trailers.

So, this is one to definitely check out. Fans of Downey and Foxx will certainly enjoy their first rate performances and this nicely produced film.

6.5/10

The Video

Presented in anamorphic widescreen, the film is presented in a AVC incoded transfer. The transfer is first rate and wonderfully presented in the Blu Ray format. The overall image is highly detailed and vibrant. The black levels are highly respectable.

8/10

The Audio

Presented in Dolby 5.1 True HD, the film has never sounded better. The dialogue is crystal clear and well mixed. There is nice usage of the speakers in a 5.1 environment.
7/10

The Packaging and Bonus Features

Presented in a standard amaray Blu Ray case, the artwork suits the film presented well.

Some nice bonus features await your perusal on this release. First up, an enjoyable and informative commentary with director Joe Wright is offered.

An Unlikely Friendship: Making the Soloist is a well produced making of feaurette. Kindness, Courtesy and Respect: Mr. Ayers and Mr. Lopez features the real men discusses their relationship and the film.

One Size Does Not All: Addressing Homelessness in Los Angeles is a featurette about the homeless concerns in the city of angels. Julliard: The Education of Nathaniel Ayers delves into Ayers education and reveals that Grammy Winning Cellist Yo Yo Ma was a classmate of Ayers.

Rounding things out is an animated short about homelessness Beth's Story, Deleted Scenes and the theatrical trailer.

9/10

Overall (Not an Average) 7/10

The Review

The Movie6.5/10
The Video 8/10
The Audio 7/10
The Packaging and Bonus Features 9/10
Overall (Not an Average) 7/10

-Suzie Lackey
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Emotional and Touching
If you really have a deep emotional feeling, you will cry when you watch this movie. It's about a homeless person who is freaked out by Beethoven and his music; and a columnist of Los Angels times.

Lopez happened to meet a homeless person, Nathaniel, playing violin in the street. He wanted to write a story about him. Nathaniel, though was having mental illness despite his ability to play violin efficiently. Lopez tracked his family down, which helped him to know more about Nathaniel's past life.

When someone read about Nathaniel in the newspaper, it opened their heart with a feeling that they wanted to gift him with something. An old lady sent him a cello, which probably was one of her precious belongings. Nathaniel was very glad to have a new cello, which he was really mad about when he was young.

He played the cello among the homeless people in Los Angeles. He loved the simple kind of life which he was living and did not need anything which we consider GREAT things in this world. Neither he had a family nor a home but he was pretty much satisfied with what he had and what he was. He truly was one of the richest and satisfied person in the world if we look from the other side though he did not have any belongings except his cello and a few items which he used to carry them on his cart.

The story made very clear that you are a happy man if you are satisfied with what you are. It also brings about the fact that there are many homeless people living in the street of Los Angeles (around the globe I'd rather say), which made me think about how fortunate I am to have a house of my own and a family.

I can't say this is a five stars movie, though I don't hesitate to spend time watching it.