Movie: “The Soloist”
Director: Joe Wright
Stars: 3.5 out of 5
Rating: Pg-13 for thematic elements, some drug use and language.
Release Date: Apr. 24.
In life, tragedy can strike without warning. Steve Lopez, played by “Iron Man’s” Robert Downey Jr., knows this all too well: His job for the LA Times revolves around humiliation from his ex-wife (Catherine Kenner) and fighting off raccoons. To top it all off, the cherry on top comes in the form of a bike accident that leaves him scraped and disgruntled. He has no luck.
Then, from out of life’s lottery, Steve happens across a drifter named Nathanial Ayers (Jamie Foxx). Ayers is exceptional at playing a violin with only two strings and rattling off streams of half-baked consciousness. Together, the two men try to patch their lives back up in the midst of Los Angeles as the city decays.
As with the trailers, the marketing campaign has thrust Foxx and Downey Jr. into the limelight, promoting the film as a character-driven, feel-good movie that will no doubt resonate with the average viewer, if they manage to tough out the first 20 minutes. The pacing is meandering, accompanied by a rough voice that drips with self-pity.
The soundtrack, however, when juxtaposed with haunting long shots of the poor and homeless is simply stunning as we track through Los Angeles with Ayers and Lopez. The paradigm of uplifting music and the downtrodden and less fortunate is perhaps the greatest strength of the film, besides the above-average performances.
Downey is unrestrained and slightly quirky, which adds a fine edge. His performance is a reminder of Mel Gibson as Martin Riggs in the “Lethal Weapon” series, back before he went ballistic. Foxx is believable, but his character is underdeveloped and often comes across as pathetic rather than interesting.
As with director Joe Wright’s previous film, “Atonement,” this movie looks gorgeous. Sweeping aerial shots of L.A., blended with long uncut takes moving from location to location, absorbing every crack and creeper. The camera takes in everything and leaves out nothing. In short, a technical masterpiece of sound, fury and image.
Despite a flawed narrative and lack of certain development, “The Soloist” is a beautiful, realistic portrayal of friendship and coming to terms with demons. Even if they can never be saved, it doesn’t mean they are to be cast aside. This film embraces the cold, the sick and the weary and never lets go. Tragedy can strike without warning, but so can hope.
