There are movies out there that rely heavily on the weight and power of it’s leads. The director only needs to do a serviceable job while the actor (or actress) powers the screen with her talent. As much as I love To Kill A Mockingbird, it’s a prime example of a film being completely carried by it’s lead (on a side note, Gregory Peck puts on an acting school in this film.) For a more recent example, some would argue the “cinematical revolutionary” film The Dark Knight wouldn’t be as powerful without Heath Ledger’s performance. We may as well throw The Soloist in this category as the film is completely dominated by both Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey Jr. and is anchored completely on the terrific performances they give.
Let’s start with Jamie Foxx who was last heard from in solid but meandering The Kingdom. He plays Nathaniel Ayers as sympathetic schizophrenic that is near impossible to root against. Remember Ray, where Jamie Foxx showed us all he’s one of the great acting talents of our generation? Here he proves that he can be a versatile actor by being the polar opposite of most of his other roles. Even in Ray, more reserved in Miami Vice and definitely in Stealth Foxx was the over-confident, loud, and angry type. Nathaniel Anthony Ayers isn’t that, and Foxx strokes the right notes for him like a true master. Every scene he’s in is pure beauty, and it could very well be a crime if he’s not nominated for another Oscar due to his masterwork here.
Complimenting him is Robert Downey Jr. who once again knocks it out of the park as reporter Steve Lopez. Many will say he appears cynical at first which is the easy way of putting it because so many of these pictures begin with a cynical asshole being changed by a gifted but handicapped individual. Lopez doesn’t come off like that at all instead as a man who has had a stroke of bad luck, after all he starts the film off being pummeled by the pavement in a bicycling accident. When he finds Nathaniel, it comes off like a ray of hope to him when he’s captivated by the music and he thinks he can help not just Nathaniel, but L.A.. Downey Jr. is gold in everything he does and elevate otherwise mediocre films to enjoyable fun pictures. The Soloist is by no means mediocre thanks in large part to Jamie Foxx, but Tony Stark is right on the spot to be a comforting friend to him even in their earliest scenes together.
Director Joe Wright does a good job of constructing this tale of failed opportunities and blooming friendships. The music, ironically, doesn’t come off heavy handed in the most dramatic of times and is handled more or less to build Nathaniel Ayers for the audience. There’s a scene midway through that has flashing lights at the screen and while reminiscent of 2001: A Space Odyssey, does a great job of engulfing us into Nathaniel’s mind while he listens to the classical sounds of the symphony. Susannah Grant’s script is no slouch either as she builds both the leads as likable gentlemen and develops their relationship exceptionally well. In some senses it’s not so much about how they become friends but rather how they handle the disputes that arise and how they interact when they themselves go at each other.
Sadly, the writing also hurts the film. Catherine Keener does a great job like always yet her character (who I don’t think was given a name) comes off underdeveloped and utterly useless. In one scene she comes off as an over-bearing editor and the next she’s the comforting wife. All things considered you could cut her character from the flick and not lose an ounce of it’s impact. The movie also falls victim to flashback syndrome. Flashbacks can be used to further the story along (see: Citizen Kane, Double Indemnity) but they can also slow down and murder a film. The Soloist is in the second category and it’s a shame because the the first couple of flashbacks are expertly handled. It’s the ones that delve into Nathaniel’s psyche that slow the film down to a crawl. In addition, other scenes such as Lopez staying with Ayers in a homeless street for the night are dragged out and should end three minutes before they do.
It’s a shame, because these make The Soloist a good, not great, film. It is however worth seeing if only because Downey Jr. and Foxx have incredible chemistry and put on an acting school. Joe Wright also builds on the strong work he displayed in Atonement and the writing, while flawed, still gives us a good story and well rounded leads. All things considered, this deserves your attention and is one of the best films of 2009 at this stage in the game.
