The Soloist

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

Ultimately, though, it's a story of redemption, with a significant twist.....What's altogether surprising is its refusal to romanticise either of its troubled or flawed central characters..... ... Full Review

The Soloist", starring two of the finest actors in Hollywood today, had just about everything going for it to be a prestigious award picture.....articles which not only painted an uplifting story of a man given an opportunity to escape the streets.... ... Full Review

The movie The Soloist , released in theaters on April 24, 2009, and now available on DVD, is a powerful and emotional movie.....The movie is very engaging and will keep your attention throughout.....Beautiful music is being played on the violin and Lopez introduces himself to Ayers.....this homeless man, who is seemingly dealing with mental issues, can produce such powerful music..... ... Full Review

He became homeless and lived on the streets of Los Angeles, CA on skid-row.The movie is very engaging and will keep your attention throughout.....Beautiful music is being played on the violin and Lopez introduces himself to Ayers..... ... Full Review

The film, directed by Joe Wright who made his American debut here following his British work Atonement and Pride & Prejudice , is certainly not his best.....But it has solid merits including engaging performances The film, which grossed about $60 million worldwide, was an underperformer.....or an intimate and thought provoking film to be seen in the DVD version, The Soloist could be the week's best bet..... ... Full Review