Movie: The Soloist

[Retriever Mama]

True story of an LA Times journalist, Steve Lopez, (Robert Downey Jr.) who stumbles across a homeless man, Nathanial Ayers, (Jamie Fox) playing beautiful classical music on a violin with 2 strings. He befriends the man and learns that he had attended Juliard. But Ayers had a mental breakdown before he could finish and his mental illness drove him to live his life on the streets trying to make music when he can. Lopez begins writing a column about Ayers and brings attention to the despicable situation of the homeless in LA and is able to assist Ayers in getting off the street and somewhat back to his music.

I think the story is great and I'd love to read the original articles. The movie? Kinda slow paced. I found myself bored when I should have been inspired and moved. Both Downey Jr and Fox gave great performances. And the footage of the homeless is just horrifying.

3 STARS

[dweck]

I just finished the book about 2 wks ago. A very good read. I'll stick the movie in my Netflix queue, which means I'll get to it, oh, about 2011 or so.....

[Dexter Dogg]

True story of an LA Times journalist, Steve Lopez, (Robert Downey Jr.) who stumbles across a homeless man, Nathanial Ayers, (Jamie Fox) playing beautiful classical music on a violin with 2 strings. He befriends the man and learns that he had attended Juliard. But Ayers had a mental breakdown before he could finish and his mental illness drove him to live his life on the streets trying to make music when he can. Lopez begins writing a column about Ayers and brings attention to the despicable situation of the homeless in LA and is able to assist Ayers in getting off the street and somewhat back to his music.

I think the story is great and I'd love to read the original articles. The movie? Kinda slow paced. I found myself bored when I should have been inspired and moved. Both Downey Jr and Fox gave great performances. And the footage of the homeless is just horrifying.

3 STARS

I agree with you. I watched the movie on Friday. The cover says "inspiring" but I thought it was slow paced and pretty depressing.

Homeless footage is sadening.

- Dave

[kelli]

watched it over the weekend.. i thought the acting was great, but it was slow and frustrating. Jamie Foxx is great! That man can do anything.

[zoezoe]

watched it over the weekend.. i thought the acting was great, but it was slow and frustrating. Jamie Foxx is great! That man can do anything.

ditto this....i thought it was painfully slowwwwwwwwwwwww but love Jamie Foxx.

[PhoebeJeebies]

ditto this....i thought it was painfully slowwwwwwwwwwwww but love Jamie Foxx.

Yeah ditto that same thing. I was all hyped up to see it and then it was like...meh...