Not Typical Formula Film

Rating: 9/10 (1 January 2010)

This will be the most under rated film of 2009. Jamie Foxx is brilliant playing a schizophrenic homeless person in Los Angeles who plays a 2 string violin. Robert Downey Jr is the LA Times Reporter who meets him on the streets of LA & tries throughout the film to help him.
The portrayals of both roles are very well done, as their relationship evolves logically throughout the film. Where this film departs from the normal film is that it tells the true story & does not come up with a Hollywood ending where there is a solution. In fact, leaving this open ended like the reality is a strength of this film. It makes the film come off as more genuine.
This is classic telling of a real story & while the film is at it, the depiction of the homeless area of Los Angeles is very realistic. This is a fine film with very good acting & care taken in making the film an accurate depiction of the real life story it is based upon. The frustration of the LA Reporter as Downey portrays him, & the reactions of Foxx homeless person are very realistic.