The Soloist

Since Ingmar Bergman's 1962 film, "Through a Glass, Darkly", the 2009 film "The Soloist" is one of the two most accurate portrayals of schizophrenia, from the point of view of the mentally ill person and of people who want to interact... Full review

Joe Wright is one of the best directors in the film business right now. Whether considering his highly-acclaimed 21st Century adaptation of Pride And Prejudice (the best directorial feature film debut since John Huston's The Maltese Falcon in 1941 if you... Full review

Within a one-week period, I saw my second screening of this powerful movie today. I am mystified by some of the "bilious-type" reviews found here, seemingly driven by an anti-Joe Wright campaign. I found no cheap sentiments in the story line... Full review

I am a musician; a composer. I almost worship Ludwig van Beethoven. Perhaps my opinion may be considered biased--fair enough. The music, well, it's Beethoven--need I say more? Absolute genius. The acting--also absolute genius. Not genius in an intellectual way, but... Full review

I had expected and hoped for an uplifting movie with a great, happy ending. While Ayers ended up in better circumstances than he began, he was not mainstreamed back into society. However this was Steve Lopez's goal, not Nathaniel Ayers'. Ayers... Full review

I'm hoping that The Soloist will come across as one of the most disappointing movies of 2009, because if we get anything more of a letdown than this it's gonna be pretty bad. I awaited the movie with enormous anticipation. Jamie... Full review

What a beautiful and sad true story. Jamie Foxx is wonderful in this person role. Robert Downey Jr also excelled in his role. A must see movie, it will touch your heart. Director Joe Wright beautiful directing in Atonment pushed me... Full review

After catching snippets of the lackluster reviews (two-stars in the Globe and Mail) I was dis-heartened. It's been a few months since I'd been moved by the trailer. However, the film never came out. I thought it might have been shelved.... Full review

Outstanding and another great job by Jami and Bravo Robert Downey..Both of you guys did a wonderful job. You get my vote for an oscar nod.If you havent read the book or seen his true story then dont judge the movie... Full review

THE SOLOIST (2009) **1/2 Jamie Foxx, Robert Downey, Jr., Catherine Keener, Nelsan Ellis, Lisa Gay Hamilton. Well-acted yet middling drama based on fact about LA Times columnist Steve Lopez (Downey) who comes across a homeless man named Nathaniel Ayers (Foxx) who... Full review

British director Joe Wright generally sidesteps the obvious as he transforms true events into an understated, quietly uplifting account of an unlikely friendship.....IN LESS sensitive hands, The Soloist could have been a crass, manipulative tearjerker..... ... Full Review

The resulting film is a curious beast.....The Soloist in its best moments does play on the heartstrings;....The direction it does take is more sobering than you'd imagine..... ... Full Review

But Wright smuggles these themes into what might have looked like an uplifting, feel-good movie.....These days, Hollywood films rarely tackle the abyss between America's haves and have-nots.....The Soloist has its imperfections, but its ambition trumps them.....Yet this is not the story of a beautiful mind, but a darkly troubled one..... ... Full Review

This fumbling shallowness pervades the film despite the best efforts of a talented cast and crew (including Erin Brockovich scribe Susannah Grant).....It's an intriguing story of misfortune, which is why he is befriended by LA Times columnist Steve Lopez....The sight of him in his shabby, brightly-coloured clothes is discordant with the fine music.... ... Full Review

Downey leaps around, confusing action with passion....Wright ( Atonement ) likes to have his cameras take to the air every now and again.....the film's expressions of concern about the inordinate number of homeless people in LA just seem like a po-faced postscript.....played with rueful grace by Catherine Keener -.... ... Full Review

Spare a thought for British filmmaker Joe Wright whose last film, The Soloist was ushered into cinema screens with barely a poster or trailer to announce its arrival. ... Full Article

Cate Blanchett's period drama Indian Summer has been shelved by studio Universal. Director Joe Wright ( The Soloist ) was to direct the film, which centred on Edwina Mountbatten, wife of India's last viceroy of the British Indian Empire Lord... ... Full Article

What with Hollywood struggling to find audiences for dramas targeted at grown-ups (the roster of recent flops includes State of Play and The Soloist ), maybe it's not so strange that some of its brightest talents are trying their luck... ... Full Article

The Soloist is a very inspiring film, similar in nature to "Resurrecting the Champ", yet quite different. The movie is based on a true story, about a reporter who befriends a homeless, gifted musician. ... Full Article

LONDON (Reuters) - The 2009 remake of dance school musical "Fame" topped the British box office after the weekend, according to Screen International on Tuesday. ... Full Article

Nathaniel Ayers presented a remarkably compelling story - here was a man with an almost preternatural gift for music, struck at an early age by schizophrenia and reduced to a life of quiet despair, despite his undiminished talent, on the... ... Full Article