The Soloist

I had an idea in my head of what I was going to say in this review as I left the theater. Now, the combination of learning the movie was based on a true and having to watch and review X-Men Origins: Wolverine has taken the wind right out of my sales. The latter mainly because it was so bad and I spent so much time talking about it that I’m not really in the mood to talk about movies (unbelievable, I know) and the former because any commentary I make about the story or the characters can be countered by saying “That’s how it really was.” So, for the sake of reviewing this, let’s disregard that argument and view it solely from a movie standpoint, and I promise it’ll be short.

I’m in no mood to beat around the bush, so I’ll start by saying that I understand why Dreamworks pulled this film from its Oscar season spot and dumped it here. To me, The Soloist is the epitome of an “ok” movie. It’s an extremely well put-together movie (more on that in a moment) and it has good performances across the board, but the story is simple and it fails to captivate the audience. Despite what the movie was telling me, I had no reason to care about any of the characters.

Even in the scene where Robert Downey, Jr and Jamie Foxx first meet, we are given no reason to care about the character and no explanation to Downey’s fascination with Foxx. I understand what the movie was trying to tell us, that this homeless guy is different and compelling and special because he plays an instrument, but Foxx, despite how believable he may be, is uncompelling. He launches into monologue after monologue that I no doubt believe actually occurred, there’s only so much we can handle before we scream.

I feel strange saying this, since I think it’s a very good performance, and I’m sure he played the character as he really was, but I hated Foxx in the movie. Aside from his music, he’s boring and unlikeable and flat. That’s the fundamental flaw of the movie. It hinges on the relationship of a bad character. I also have a problem with the casting of Fox in general. Again, he’s a good actor, but he can’t disappear into a role the way that today’s best can. He’s never Nathaniel Ayers, or Tubbs, or even Ray Charles, he’s still Jamie Foxx and he’s still blaming it on the alcohol. I watched The Wire for five seasons, and I’ve seen how Andre Royo can make a homeless guy compelling, because he disappears into the role. You see so many different sides of Bubbles that he feels real and you care about what happens to him. I would love to see what a different actor with a different take on the character could do. Might I suggest another Wire alumn in Michael K. Williams. Williams can do highs and lows and could bring a darkness to the character that the film really needed. Foxx gives us this depth once, maybe twice, and it works, but at the same time it sucks because it’s just showing us what could have been.

I’m not going to talk about the other actors, because they’re all solid. Downey, Jr. is usual self and he feels natural throughout. Where this movie really thrives is the direction of Joe Wright. Now, I was not a fan of Atonement. I thought it was boring and too long, but I was able to appreciate Wright’s visual direction. It was beautifully shot throughout, but the two scenes that really stood out to me: the shot of McAvoy and Knightley in the library and the continuous shot of the soldiers on the beach. Wright shows again in this movie that he is truly a great visual director. I just wish that he gets a better project to showcase his talents. He uses continuous shots throughout the movie and gives the film a wonderful style. Even the shots that are basic are framed in such a way that you can tell Wright views it as art.

Basically, go watch the trailer for this movie. You’ll know pretty much everything about the film. It’s by no means special, but if the trailer looks good to you or you just love well-shot character drama, give this movie a whirl.

PS- Check out this picture of Michael K. Williams and tell me how awesomely he could do “dark homeless guy”.