Film Review: The Soloist

The Soloist
Directed by: Joe Wright
Performances by: Robert Downey Jr. and Jamie Foxx.
Film Review by: Paul Adam Smeltz

Film reviewers do their best to come to a film without any preconceived notions about what they’re going to see of what they’ll think of it. However, film reviewers are human and word of mouth often does effect their expectation on what the film will be like especially when they derive from the views of other reviewers. his reviewer is no exception.

I have heard on numerous occasions “The Soloist” is a very slow moving film that really gets nowhere in regard to plot and character development. It’s been said its pace drags to full stops taking away from the talent of the actors involved in the film. With all due respect to my colleagues (whether they acknowledge me as one or not), this reviewer feels they are somewhat off the mark in their assessments.

“The Soloist” is indeed slowly paced but the subjects of the film centers around two art forms which are slow due to their very creative nature. They are classical music whose tonal qualities almost forces its listener to quiet the mind and body in order to embrace and be enhanced by its intricate melodies and writing which has been described as “Slow Thinking” meaning the mind of a writer slows from its normally frantic pace in order to place words on paper (or computer screen) that are reflective and enriching to those who read them. “The Soloist” is about the relationship between two men who lives are intertwined by these two forms and thereby the film does well to reflect this through its pacing.

The Film, “The Soloist” is about a reporter for The Los Angeles Times named Steve Lopez (Robert Downey Jr.) meeting a musically gifted but mentally ill and homeless man named Nathaniel Ayers (Jamie Foxx) playing his violin in the streets. Although the reporter initially sees Nathaniel Ayers as a subject of one of his perspective stories, they soon become friends. In the process, the audience not only become witness to a growing, loving friendship, but we also begin to wonder what really constitutes friendship itself.

This exploration leads us to other questions as well. The underlining theme of the film is how we perceive the mentally ill. It is often felt people suffering from mental illness need to be cured from their non conformist behavior so they can become normal and acceptable to the rest of society. Yet, the question arises what is normalcy and what is the price for some who embrace it over their perceived insanity? There is one scene in the film which places the focus on this question most profoundly.

The scene consists of a woman who is complaining about a medication she is taking to help cope with her mental illness. She states it takes away the voices telling her to hurt herself and others making her feel bad about herself but the same medication also takes away the voices she hears saying positive things about her and they give her comfort. This scene helps us to realize life if full of happiness and sadness and this is what gives life it’s meaning. To rid oneself on one risks losing the other as well and we are left with nothing.

It is as William Blake puts it in his poem “Auguries of Innocence”

“Man was made for joy and woe;
And when this we rightly know,
Thro' the world we safely go.”

While it is true many who suffer from mental illness are in great pain as they try to make sense of the world their minds have created for them, many also see a number of blessing those who are perceived to be normal can’t or are no longer able to experience. Yet, some who suffer from being normal can sometimes sense them. The Robert Downey Jr. character confesses while intoxicated in a bar to his former wife how much his day was enhanced by witnessing the deep joy he saw in the soul of the Jamie Foxx character. His drunken state allows his mind to be open to what he witnessed and begin searching for the meaning of it until after repeatedly asking his former wife what it is she simply tells him, “It’s Grace.”

The film, “The Soloist,” explore many topics other than the obvious one of the formation of a friendship between the main characters and it’s unfortunate many reviewers didn’t catch them. This reviewer doesn’t pretend to be a better reviewer for discovering these themes, but it does demonstrate no one knows everything and therefore any reviewer should never serve as the final work on anything. Including yours truly. It’s always best to see film and create your own assessment on how meaningful is to you. With that said, this reviewer has found “The Soloist” to be a satisfying film which brings many important issues germane to human relations to the fore.

“The Soloist” is rated PG and is based upon a series of columns that originally ran in The Los Angeles Times written by Steve Lopez. It is currently running at The Pocono Community Theatre in East Stroudsburg, PA. You may visit their website or call 570-421-3456 for show times and dates. Most films run one week from Friday to Thursday but some films may be held over for an additional week or two depending on ticket sales.

“The Soloist” was featured in The Forwardian Arts Society Film and Chat Gathering which is held the first Friday of every month at The Pocono Community Theater. This is an event which provides an opportunity for film lovers to see a film shown during the 4pm hour together and discuss it afterwards in the Theater’s Café. Those participating in this month’s chat were Arline M. Smeltz*, Samantha Breitlauch*, Steven Burgoon*, Jan and Don Slepian* and many others. The next Film and Chat Gathering will take place Friday June 5th featuring a film to be announced. Please Contact The Forwardian Arts Society through it’s Website at www.theforwardianartssociety.com for more information.

You’ll find more photographs in The Forwardian Arts Society Film and Chat Gatherings 2009 Gallery.

(*) denotes members of The Forwardian Arts Society in good standing and are considered Our Good Friends.