Not a Duet

Rating: 6/10 (8 May 2010)

First thing, let's get out of the way the alleged genius of Jamie Foxx. This is the second time we see Foxx playing a gifted musician with an affliction. As Ray (Charles), Foxx was barely adequate. Here, as the mentally challenged Nathaniel Ayers, he is almost just annoying. Foxx makes the movie frustrating by engendering not one iota of caring or sympathy for his character. He also has virtually no chemistry at all with his co-star, Robert Downey, Jr.
Downey, Jr. does a fine job with the character of Steve Lopez, a newsman trying to help Foxx, while using him in a series of articles. Downey steals every scene he is in, which is no small feat, as he is not the 'extraordinary' character here. Alas, Downey cannot carry this picture alone. And, since there is no real progress in Nathaniel Ayers' life or condition, the movie drags and depresses.
Adding to the depression is the long graphic looks at the plight of LA's homeless, with the unspoken caveat that their lot will not improve either. Here, we are slumming, as Downey is, but with less incentive to do so. Oddly, if perhaps metaphorically, the director has Downey fall in urine twice during the movie! All in all, without any explanation of schizophrenia, without any information as to how Ayers developed it, and without any upbeat tales of Ayers' overcoming (or just contending with) it, the movie is just one long not too convincing diatribe on the lot of the homeless.
Downey makes this picture tolerable. It is worth a look, if only for his performance.