No one changes anything by playing it safe (The Soloist (DVD))

Member Name: aylawarner

Product:	The Soloist (DVD)
Date:	20/10/09 (73 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Very powerful and moving story, outstanding acting

Disadvantages: Too long and very slow

When Los Angeles journalist, Steve Lopez, discovers Nathaniel Ayres, he is filled with inspiration. Nathaniel is a mentally ill homeless man but behind the rough exterior is an ex-Juilliard student with an extraordinary musical talent. Steve's first story on Nathaniel seems to capture the hearts of his readers, who send Nathaniel a new instrument to play on rather than his violin with only two strings. Steve sets out to make a better life for his new trusting friend but his good intentions aren't always met warmly when Nathaniel has to deal with the harsh realities of his past and living on the streets.

~ Cast ~
Nathaniel Ayers - Jamie Foxx
Steve Lopez - Robert Downey Jr.
Mary - Catherine Keener

The acting from both of the main actors was incredible. Jamie Foxx played the homeless and very crazy Nathaniel brilliantly and you wouldn't think twice about avoiding him if you actually happened to come across him on the street. He wore the most outrageous clothes and pulled around a shopping trolley full of random objects that he'd picked up from all over the city. You could see the different emotions running around in his head and, although he was shy and paranoid, which you could see from his body language, he would go off into a world of his own and would not be able to stop talking. He would ramble on for ages about nothing in particular and just to watch him talking nonsense was pretty mesmerizing. Foxx managed to make me really believe that he was a crazy homeless guy and I really felt for his character.

Robert Downey Jr. also played his part brilliantly being an optimistic and head-strong journalist. He portrays his emotions so well that I found myself having the same feelings as Steve did towards Nathaniel - at first caring for and befriending him and then feeling anger and impatience when he wouldn't do something Steve asked of him.

I could sympathise with both characters' feelings and this is partly what made the film so powerful. The main reason it was such a powerful film though was due to the story which, being based on a true one, makes it even more powerful. It is a very moving story and one that inspires you to make you want to go out and help someone.

Despite the good things about the film, there were a few bad too. I found it contained far too many slow and dull moments where I'd start getting fidgety in my seat and the film was far too long. Despite the story only being set over a short amount of time in the two characters' lives, I found that it dragged way too much and not much actually went on during it. This isn't a film for those who like a lot of action and drama as nothing much really even happens the whole way through.

This was a very good film, if a little long and slow, and the two main actors were what made it. A wonderfully inspirational, powerful and moving film.

Running time: 117 minutes
Certificate rating: 12A
Director: Joe Wright

Summary: Moving but moving slowly