At one point, being a "newspaper man" was a big deal in American culture. Then the Internet happened. With websites giving people instant access to any news story as it happens (or, as in the case of Michael Jackson's death before it happened), "newspaper men" are left to pound the pavement for new, interesting stories.
Steve Lopez (Robert Downey, Jr.) is an LA Times writer searching for the one big story to help keep his career from slipping away. His search takes him into the alleys of Los Angeles where he discovers Nathaniel Ayers (Jamie Foxx), a musical prodigy whose stint at Juilliard was cut short, leaving him to a life on the streets. Steve is so moved by Nathaniel's story, he begins to write a series of columns on the street musician. The two eventually strike up a friendship and Steve becomes determined to turn Nathaniel's life around.
Although based on a true story, The Soloist feels incredibly cliché, so I had a really hard time buying the story's "truth." Some of this stems from sloppy editing and convenient events that stretch the limits of believability. There's also the seemingly directionless plotting. Some scenes overlap with disregard for the connection between screen time and real time, throwing the audience for a loop.
The film is also plagued with the same issues as Miracle at St. Anna. Too much time is spent pontificating getting the message across that the story is lost. Even with the editing issues, The Soloist isn't a complicated movie. Downey and Foxx do a good enough job communicating the main message through their performances without the need to blatantly and repeatedly hammer it home every few minutes.
These themes are also a major part of the included extras, which include a look at Los Angeles's homeless problem (and the production team's feeling on the issue), interviews with the real Steve Lopez and Nathaniel Ayers and a short animated feature showing that anyone can find themselves struggling and homeless.
Even though The Soloist feels clichéd, there's a certain grain of truth to everything. The events may not be as they happened and the story may be simple, but there's also an underlying complexity in regards to the character's lives. Downey and Foxx are great in their roles and, as previously mentioned, are able to communicate a lot about their characters' personalities and mental states. Downey is sharp-witted and on the ball, while Foxx goes a little beyond the "crazy homeless guy" stereotype.
There's also a truthful, real-life charm to the confusing plot. This is life, not a movie, and sometimes events seem muddled and messy. Unfortunately, for everything The Soloist tries to do to seem "real", a million other issues pop up and smack down any progress.
The Blu-Ray transfer is great. Although there are problems in the editing room, the cinematography is spot on. Certain scenes have fun with the lighting without destroying the quality of the picture. I'm really drawn to inky blacks and sharp picture, so I was really happy with the overall quality. Sound follows suit. Dialogue is front and center while ambient sounds are distinguishable without becoming overpowering.
The Soloist is an ambitious concept, but doesn't work as well as it could. It really feels like a movie stuck between trying to present a cinematic feel while also adding "real" into the equation. I liked some of what The Soloist does, but in the end, it isn't a good movie. It's a great character piece, but for all its chaotic charm, the story falls flat and is a little too preachy.
