Blu-Ray Review: The Soloist

The Soloist
Written by: Susannah Grant
Based on the book by Steve Lopez
Directed By: Joe Wright
Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Jamie Foxx, Catherine Keener, Tom Hollander, Lisa Gay Hamilton, and Nelsan Ellis

Blu-Ray Specs:
1080p High Definition
English 5.1 Dolby TrueHD/French and Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles: English/English SDH/French/Spanish

Special Features: An Unlikely Friendship: Making The Soloist (HD), Deleted Scenes, and, Commentary from director Joe Wright

From the box:

Academy Award nominee Robert Downey Jr. and Academy Award Winner Jamie Foxx star in an extraordinary and inspiring true story of how a chance meeting can change a life. The Soloist tells the poignant and ultimately soaring tale of a Los Angeles newspaper reporter who discovers a brilliant street musician, with unsinkable passion, and the unique friendship and bond that transforms both their lives. The remarkable performances make for an unforgettable experience in what is being hailed as "a courageous and uncompromising film" (Gene Shalit, Today).

The blurb you just read is pretty misleading. Sure, it's a decent summary of the plot, but it uses adjectives like "unforgettable" and "soaring" to describe a film that is neither of those things.

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In fact, The Soloist is rather average. It never raises to the heights it could have and it really just plays by the numbers throughout.

I haven't read the book. I don't know what of this story was omitted or changed to make the film better for audiences. I do know that it sat unreleased for months and was the victim of a few date shifts.

It's not a bad movie by any means. It's just not that great. One major drawback for me is Jamie Foxx. I just do not believe him anymore. I feel like since he won an Oscar, (Undeserved btw) that he feels like he is better than everyone else and that cockiness seems to come out in his work.

As for the rest of the cast, well, the only real stand out is Robert Downey Jr. He elevates this film from hokey to watchable. Catherine Keener is wasted and is barely more than window dressing. Nelsan Ellis is pretty good for what he is given and it's vastly different character from his amazing turns on True Blood.

I was excited to see this movie from the trailers and my excitement was quickly deflated by a film that is neither powerful or emotional but a one-note flat line.

The disc is pretty much devoid of special features. There are some deleted scenes, a commentary, and a making of featurette. Nothing to interesting to be honest and certainly nothing to elevate it from its mediocrity.

The film looks great. The colors are vibrant and the picture is pristine. The sound is great but the music doesn't seem to be focuses on quite as much as it should be.

Overall, The Soloist is a decent film with good performances. It doesn't stand out as anything special though. It's worth a watch but won't stand out in your memory.

The Soloist is available on DVD and Blu-Ray now.