The Soloist

The Soloist is based on the true story of Nathaniel Ayers (Jamie Foxx), a musical prodigy who developed schizophrenia during his second year at Juilliard School. Ayers becomes homeless in the streets of downtown Los Angeles, playing the violin and the cello.[2]


[edit] Cast
Jamie Foxx as Nathaniel Ayers, a musician who becomes schizophrenic and homeless. Foxx, who has been classically trained on the piano, is being taught stringed instruments by Los Angeles Philharmonic cellist Ben Hong for the role.[2] Also, Foxx had chiseled his teeth in order to show a realistic appearance. Foxx also stated that filming was comparable to his troubled childhood years.
Robert Downey, Jr. as Steve Lopez, a columnist for the Los Angeles Times who wrote about Nathaniel Ayers and developed a friendship with him.[3]
Catherine Keener as Lopez's ex-wife and editor at the Los Angeles Times.[4]
Tom Hollander as Peter Snyder, a Los Angeles Philharmonic cellist who attempts to rehabilitate Ayers.[5]
Lisa Gay Hamilton as Jennifer, a sister of Nathaniel Ayers.[6]
Rachael Harris as Lopez's co-worker.[7]

[edit] Production
The Soloist, directed by Joe Wright, was written by Susannah Grant, based on a series of columns[8] written by Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez, who wrote about the plight of schizophrenic musician Nathaniel Ayers.[2] Grant also drew elements of the story from a book written by Lopez, which was published in the spring of 2008.[3] The film was budgeted at $60 million, twice the budget amount of Wright's previous film, Atonement.[9] Production began in January 2008 and was filmed mostly in Los Angeles.[2]


[edit] Reception
Overall, the film has received lukewarm to mixed reactions across the majority of its reviews. The film currently holds a total 61% Freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 109 reviews (resulting in a "Fresh" status), and a 61% on Metacritic. Common consensus among reviewers praise the performances by Robert Downey Jr and Jamie Foxx, yet a majority of critics comment on the film's lack of narrative focus in attempting to tell a convincing or engaging story due to the somewhat "uneven" direction by British filmmaker, Joe Wright.

http://www.rottentomatoes