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The Soloist
2009 117 min France, United States of America, United Kingdom PG-13 18+
★6.6
Drama, Music
Director: Joe Wright
Trailers
Description
A Los Angeles journalist befriends a homeless Juilliard-trained musician, while looking for a new article for the paper.
Budget:
$60M
US Gross:
$31.72M
Worldwide:
$38.33M
Starring
Jamie Foxx
Actor
Robert Downey Jr.
Actor
Catherine Keener
Actor
Awards
1 win & 3 nominations total
Key opinion
The Soloist is a deeply emotional drama that gains strength from the powerful, transformative performances of Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey Jr. While critics and audiences alike praise the film's humanitarian intent and soul-stirring musical score, opinions diverge on whether its deliberate pacing and narrative choices successfully balance social realism with cinematic idealism.
| Acting | Jamie Foxx delivers a nuanced, virtuoso performance that convincingly portrays the complexities of a talented musician living with schizophrenia. | |
| Score | Dario Marianelli’s score provides an evocative, soulful foundation that effectively highlights the film's exploration of music as a language of connection. | |
| Cinematography | The cinematography masterfully captures the gritty reality of Los Angeles while employing inventive imagery to mirror the internal state of the protagonist. | |
| Pacing | The film's pacing is a subject of debate; some find its contemplative, steady tempo essential for immersion, while others find the narrative elongated and at times dragging. | |
| Acting | Robert Downey Jr.'s performance polarizes viewers, with some finding his portrayal of the journalist to be a grounded, serious turn, while others perceive his acting as repetitive or over-dramatic. |