Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez (Robert Downey Jr.) comes across street musician Nathaniel Ayers (Jamie Foxx) one day and is intrigued by his talent. A bit of work reveals that Ayers was once a Julliard student but mental illness has stranded him on the streets of L.A., homeless. Through many columns, Lopez acquaints the world with Ayers’ story and does what he can to improve the man’s life. In the process, he finds his own improved as well.

CRITIQUE

Through his work, especially the period dramas Pride and Prejudice and Atonement, director Joe Wright has established not only his ability but a certain set of trademarks for himself. That aspect of this film is one of its highlights. The performances and story of The Soloist are powerful and strongly presented through script and direction.

When a film is a social-issue drama, calling attention to something about our culture that needs attention and improvement, the result is often described as powerful. This adjective is also usually trotted out for dramatizations of real life events. Combine both of those types of films and it would be easy to overload on the “inspirational” tone. Wright skillfully avoids this, however.

The stark presentation of the homeless on the streets contributes to this, while the intensity of the moments in which Nathaniel’s schizophrenia is most apparent does as well. Wright takes his penchant for atmospheric shots from the natural landscape to the urban planes of the city of Los Angeles, and he also includes a striking sequence of music presented as a color light show that echoes both (aptly) Disney’s Fantasia and 2001: A Space Odyssey. This proves how Wright’s choices are never boring.

Susannah Grant writes with an unflinching eye, too. Flashbacks to Nathaniel’s past show his childhood introduction to music and the development of his talent and mental illness side by side. When Nathaniel and Steve are on screen together, a rapport is instantly telegraphed to the audience. The progression of Steve’s help for his new friend is emotionally engaging, with Grant excellently setting this amid the larger topic of homelessness. A wonderful touch is the intercutting of a recital Steve has organized for Nathaniel going wrong with the moment where Nathaniel’s illness reached the point that prompted him to leave his family behind. It is powerful, through a purely cinematic technique.

The performances of Downey Jr. and Foxx cannot be underestimated. Foxx does not rest on his laurels after the success of his portrayal of Ray Charles in Ray, while Downey continues his march toward a reassertion of his considerable talent. The Soloist stands as a memorable alchemy of direction, story, and performance with emotional resonance.

THE VIDEO

Theatrical presentation of films is most accurately re-created at home with the widescreen format of this disc. It is also reliable for color and picture transfer, and this DVD is just one of many that have no glitches to mar the viewing experience.

THE AUDIO

All the language tracks on this disc are in the expected-but-still-excellent Dolby Digital 5.1 surround format. This is typical for the English track but less common for the Spanish and French tracks here. The subtitles offered on the DVD are also for all three languages.

THE EXTRAS

An Unlikely Friendship: Making The Soloist: About twenty minutes long, this making-of doc includes the usual content: interviews, on set footage, brief clips. It is still a good extra, though, and very much worth watching. Foxx and Downey Jr. provide nice comments on what acting this story was like, and footage of Foxx rehearsing the cello supplements this. It’s interesting to find out how the filmmakers recreated L.A.’s Skid Row and to know that director Wright and many of his artisans, such as cinematographer Seamus McGarvey, are British or Irish and bringing this American story to the screen. Footage of the real Ayers and Lopez adds just the right bit of touching authenticity.

Deleted Scenes: There are five scenes compiled in this extra, and they are mostly up to the quality of the finished film itself. The best is the last one, in which Nathaniel and Steve sit in Steve’s car after the concert and listen to some more of Beethoven. The slow track out that ends the scene feels like an alternate ending for the film. These are worth watching.

Audio Commentary: Director Wright provides a solo track on this disc, and it is an interesting one. He is quick with filming facts, such as pointing out which moment Downey and Foxx filmed together first, but we also hear fascinating tidbits of information, like the fact that Steve actually suffered a bit of memory loss following the bike accident that opens the film. It’s cute when Wright cops to being a bit leery of filming in the L.A. Times printing facilities or in awe of filming famed L.A. Philharmonic conductor Salonen.

Kindness, Courtesy, and Respect: Mr. Ayers + Mr. Lopez: Taking over one of the best moments of the making-of doc above, the real Steve Lopez and Nathaniel Ayers discuss meeting and their times together. Footage of Ayers playing across the street from L.A.’s famous Disney Concert Hall is capped off by his performance of a Beethoven piece during their joint interview that will amaze. Definitely watch this.

One Size Does Not Fit All: Addressing Homelessness in Los Angeles: The central issue tackled in this film-- homelessness-- is covered in this extra. The leaders at Los Angeles Men’s Project (LAMP) and Midnight Mission discuss the enormous magnitude of this social problem in the city of L.A. and the ways people can help. The most touching extra here, this will prompt much soul-searching from anyone who watches it.

Beth’s Story: This is a very brief, animated fictionalized story about how a person can end up homeless. It is intended to personalize the issue of homelessness and incite people to get involved.

FINAL THOUGHTS

The Soloist avoids any saccharine tone on the strength of the narrative, which impacts the audience’s mind and heart. The direction and acting here add to that impact. Many film fans will appreciate these things as well as the social consciousness evident in this movie. At least renting The Soloist is recommended, and quite a few may want to purchase this inspiring film.