The Soloist: Movie Review *****

This is my personal review of the movie The Soloist (2009) starring Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey Jr.

I'm apologizing in advance if I'm revealing too much about the movie. So if you didn't see it, please read only the next paragraph (up to the video) and watch the trailer!

Thus, for those who didn't see it, I highly recommend this movie. Both Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey Jr. are amazing and are acting with humility and professionalism. This is much more than just a touching story about a homeless guy; it is also smart and thoughtful. Furthermore, the Soloist pictures the homeless, the psychotic and the ignorant. It is worth watching for it's simple, realistically written story and for it's ironic turns that represent well what our society is all about.

First of all, what I immediately loved about The Soloist is the transition from one scene to the next. At the beginning of the movie, most of the scenes are eclectic and sudden, but are consistent with how our society drives in the fast lane. Then, later in the movie, when journalist Steve Lopez (Downey Jr.) meets a homeless named Nathaniel (Foxx) and hears him play the cello for the first time, everything slows down and we see some beautiful close-ups of the instrument's strings while he plays his heart out.

Also, I noticed how accurately the journalist represented society's ignorance when dealing with the homeless and the mentally ill. At the beginning of the movie, Steve was quite arrogant and was using Nathaniel just to make a good article. As the movie progressed however, Steve wanted to help Nathaniel but didn't know how. Steve, as the majority of people in western societies, believed that the best solution was to put Nathaniel (who was in fact schizophrenic) on psychotropic drugs and in an institution. Although this solution is highly attractive and easy, Steve soon realizes that one cannot "fix" a person like one would a car.

Also, throughout the movie, Steve's problem with raccoons digging holes in his yard was a perfect metaphor for how the media brought us to believe in instant results and the unlimited power of money. Thus, Steve heard that if he buys coyote urine and hangs it from a tree, raccoons will go away. He finally falls for the idea and later realizes in shame that he invested for nothing. I loved how ironic and realistic that scene was since some solutions are nowadays so simplistic and sometimes even ridiculous without mentioning how we often invent problems that do not really exist.

Furthermore, there was this scene that frustrated me so much where Steve presents Nathaniel with a form for him to sign stating that he has schizophrenia and that he needs supervision, etc. Although the majority of people with mental disorders are NOT violent, schizophrenics do tend to act more violently than others and since they are also anosognosic (meaning of not being aware of a problem or impairment one might have), they will react particularly strongly when judged or confronted with their illness.

Overall, it was a magnificent movie leaving you with hope that humility and generosity will not only continue to help the unfortunate, but will also inspire respect of the mentally ill.