Oscar glory might have passed by "The Soloist," but no one else should

Rating: 8/10 (21 May 2009)

It was about a year ago that "The Soloist" was an early Oscar prediction. With a proved commodity like Jamie Foxx in a role eerily similar to his Oscar-winning turn as Ray Charles and 2008 star reborn in Robert Downey Jr. as the co-pilot, this based on a true story about a journalist and a homeless musician forging a difficult relationship seemed primed for gold. Then, much like Foxx's character Nathaniel Ayers Jr. did, "The Soloist" fell from grace. Eyeing what would be a competitive awards season, Dreamworks/Universal decided to wave the white flag and push the film to April and litter Oscar season with early TV promos. A wise move? Perhaps. The hype might no longer be there, but if it had stayed, it would have been worthy.
The stars certainly carry this film. Foxx might seem like he's re-channeling "Ray" in the previews, but this character is and feels so different for him. Yet again he is transformative as a schizophrenic with a passion for music. Anyone has spent time talking with or who works with people with mental illness can attest that this is what it's like. There is a humble realism in his performance and in the choice to use actual homeless in the film. Downey Jr. also impresses with his ability to make Steve Lopez his without injecting too much of his own style: It helps keep this character separate from his others and is important in a film based on truth.
Most underrated in this film is the work of director Joe Wright ("Atonement"). Always a fan of lengthy shots and sweeping camera movement, Wright makes sure "The Soloist" reflect the appreciation for art that lies at the heart of his film and the book and news columns it was based off. He has a talent for setting a mood with his camera-work and can so easily heighten the drama or tone things back when the film becomes more about the music. The scene where we see splashes of colored lights to the music with the intent of putting us in Ayers' perspective might seem boring but it's brilliant. Wright makes the most of this script and does some beautiful editing to make it feel seamless. He's sure to direct a masterpiece in the future: "The Soloist" is a bit too gritty and real to completely take off under his direction despite his fantastic work with it.
The one weakness that would have kept "The Soloist" from Academy recognition had it stayed in the running was the fact that the script often suffered from the same condition as its focal character: schizophrenia. It takes quite a bit of time for "The Soloist" to decide what it's about, but it comes together very nicely. It's a film about their relationship, but then there are moments of Lopez's personal life and flashbacks of Ayers' life before he became ill. Susannah Grant ("Erin Brockovich") does a nice job making all these important elements work, at least in certain portions of the film. Others parts, namely toward the middle, lag a bit, but considering what Wright and the talented actors, including the always lovable Catherine Keener as Lopez's ex, manage to do with it, it was quite well done.
~Steven C
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