The Soloist Review
The Soloist is based on a true story about Nathaniel Ayers, (Jamie Foxx) a man who developed schizophrenia in his 2nd year of studying music at Juillard, and ended up homeless in downtown Los Angeles. While on the streets, Ayers meets Steve Lopez(Robert Downy Jr.) a Los Angeles columnist who discovers Ayers playing his violin on the streets of LA. Initially, the journalist was intrigued with Ayers’ music ability, and thinks of this homeless man as just a story idea, but then a unique friendship is formed, one that changes both their lives.
Rating: Two out of five buckets
Release Date: August 8, 2009
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 16+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Excessive
Talking Points:
Though the classical music throughout the movie is beautiful, the movie is based on the relationship the musician developed with the journalist. The trailer emphasizes more of the music aspect of the movie, which may mislead people. “The Soloist” has more in common with “Pursuit of Happiness” and “A Beautiful Mind.”
When I walked out of the movie I was thinking kids won’t like it at all. Then I interviewed the only child in the theater, a 13 year old girl, who said she loved the movie. She wanted to see it because she likes Robert Downey Jr., and loved him in “Ironman.” Though this girl loved the movie, I think the majority of kids won’t like it because of the mature subject matter.
The target audience is adults, though the serious minded teenagers will find the movie interesting and inspiring.
Lopez received a huge response from his readers. Readers did things such as: delivering a cello for Ayers to play, helped him with housing, medical treatment, and even lessons from a Philharmonic member. No matter how much help that Ayers received, Lopez discovers that nothing can truly cure Ayers, except by being a good, loyal, friend. That’s the main message of the movie.
Sexual Content: Mild
- There are several homeless women who wear revealing clothes.
Violent Content: Excessive
- We see a crime scene which shows a lot of blood.
- Nathanial attacks a reporter, it’s brutal and disturbing.
- Police are shown arresting people on skid row.
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
- The f-word, s-word, h-word, d-word, b-word, are used throughout the movie.
Drug and Alcohol Content: Excessive
- There is drinking and smoking throughout the film
It may be disturbing for most kids. The movie shows the other side of glamorous L.A. It highlights the lives of hundred’s of homeless people and families in L.A’s skid row, which includes some harsh profanity, and images of drug use and drinking.
I read that the co-producer (Gary Foster) said “We felt that in the right hands this could become a film about love, about inspiration, about the power of how people can help each other. That’s what we wanted.”
Overall it’s a wonderful, inspirational movie. From a mom’s perspective, the mature subject matter, and disturbing images, will not interest most kids, and it’s also not appropriate for most kids, therefore I’m giving it 2 buckets.
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