Very underrated

Rating: 9/10 (28 November 2010)

I do not fully understand why this movie is so underrated. People seem to be stuck in the morality of the movie, feeling that Downey's character didn't really do what he was "supposed to". I think that it is irrelevant, the story may not unfold as people expect or want it to unfold, but it is still a powerful story. Not only as a story of one man, but as tale about how life often unfolds.
The movie revolves around the life of Steve Lopez, a journalist who, while searching for his next story, happens upon a homeless man, Nathaniel Ayers, who is playing a violin with only two strings. Lopez becomes interested in how Ayers, a very gifted musician and former Juilliard student, ended up homeless on the streets of LA. While writing his articles, Lopez starts trying to help Nathaniel to escape his life as a homeless man and to help him "become good again", as a musician.
The two become close friends, but Nathaniel, suffering from mental illness, refuses Lopez's help. All he wants to do is play music on the streets, and, in the end, he ends up helping Steve by enlightening him, spiritually with his music and his character.
This movie has some outstanding elements, most important of which are the performances and the score.
Jamie Foxx is brilliant as the schizophrenic homeless man. He manages to be convincing as man who, even down on his luck, finds happiness as he loses himself in music.
Robert Downey Jr. proves again that he is a great actor who can flawlessly portray a troubled, dramatic character.
The musical score of the movie is like a cheat. For me at least, being a lover of classical music, the score sold the movie completely. The tracks are perfectly chosen for each scene, transmitting feelings of happiness, despair, friendship and love in a way that no other genre of music ever can.
This movie is a must-see for everybody, but especially any lover of classical music.