Oscar winner Jamie Foxx gives an outstanding performance as Nathaniel Anthony Ayers, Jr., who is a classical music prodigy living in his own world on the streets of Los Angeles. Robert Downey, Jr. offers a realistic portrayal of Steve Lopez, the New York Times columnist who attempts to save Mr. Ayers from a life on Skid Row. Catherine Keener plays Lopez ex-wife and editor, who fulfills the sympathetic listener part and is clearly disenchanted. The Soloist is based on a true story and adapted by Susannah Grant(Erin Brokovich) from the book by Steve Lopez. It feels like an independent film, partly because no attempt is made to hide wrinkles, blemishes, and bodily fluids with Hollywood glamour.
This movie is important because it offers insight into homelessness and mental illness–two subjects surrounded with stigma. It was shocking to learn that there are 90,000 homeless in Los Angeles. Joe Wright (Atonement) brilliantly directs several sequences which allow a portal into the perspective of Nathaniel Ayers. The audience is made to experience the fear and loss of control of schizophrenia and also Ayers vivid understanding of music and how he uses it to express difficult emotions.
Lopez curiosity about Ayers starts out egotistical and exploitive. He receives an award from the mayor for his coverage of the story, as if he is a hero, when all he feels like is a fraud. A reader is inspired to donate her 50 year old cello to replace Mr. Ayers violin which has only two strings left. The column publicity is a double-edged sword. It brings public sympathy, but also unwanted interference with Ayers and the Lamp community. Lopez attempts to move Ayers off the streets and provide opportunities.
The one that really seems to need saving is Steve Lopez. He lives his life in a haphazard, bitter manner; his self-care regimen has clearly gone down the tubes as he wears disheveled clothes, doesn’t appear to have showered or shaved in quite some time, and is covered in urine in two different scenes.
Nathaniel is happy in his world where he lives unconfined, able to soothe others and himself with his cello music, where the birds and traffic are his orchestra. He feels useful because he sweeps and cleans up litter in tunnels. Ayers inspires Lopez to have passion in a culture of increasing apathy. A great one-liner is offered by Mr. Ayers, I used to sleep on Wall Street, but it’s too dirty.
Unfortunately, this film was far from perfect. The script did not have a clear direction, needed more to move the action along, and lacked character development, especially for Lopez. The intensity did not match the subject matter and, at times, bordered on mocking itself.
Even with its flaws, this movie makes viewers ponder quality of life. People inspired by Nathaniel Ayers story are encouraged to visit the website www.takepart.com. The moving musical score is performed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic and also by Ben Hong, which included selections by Johann Sebastian Bach and Beethoven.
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