The Soloist

The Pitch: Nathanial Ayers (Foxx) is a child obsessed by music, and his love for the cello and Beethoven take him from the slums of Cleveland to Juilliard. His battle with schizophrenia forces him out of school, leaving him homeless on the streets of L.A. Steve Lopez (Downey) is a journalist who runs into Ayers, and becomes fascinated by his story. The two develop an interesting, but unusual relationship.

High Points: The performances are every bit as good as you would expect, and the story is powerful and inspiring. The Soloist is based upon a true story, so it lacks some of the clichés that you might find in other made-up tales.

Low Points: There isn’t a moment that will make you break down crying, but they get close a few times. As a result, it sometimes feels as if it is taking itself way too seriously.

Final Thoughts: This film knows drama better than TNT. If that is what you seek, then you should enjoy it. However, don’t expect to have that gushy August Rush experience.