The Soloist (2009)
Coming Out at April 24, 2009 in theaters.
Biography, Drama, Music
The Soloist is a drama film directed by Joe Wright, and starring Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey Jr. The film was released in theatres on 24 April 2009 and on DVD and Blu-ray August 5.
In 2005, Steve Lopez is a journalist working for the Los Angeles Times. He is divorced and now works for his ex-wife, Mary, an editor. A biking accident lands Lopez in a hospital.
One day, he hears a violin being played beautifully. Investigating, he encounters Nathaniel Ayers, a homeless man with schizophrenia, who is playing a violin when Lopez introduces himself. During the conversation that follows, Lopez learns that Ayers once attended Juilliard.
Curious as to how a former student of such a prestigious school ended up on the streets, Lopez contacts Juilliard but learns that no record of Ayers graduating from it exists. Though at first figuring a man with schizophrenia who’s talented with a cello isn’t worth his time, Lopez soon realizes that he has no better story to write about. Luckily, he soon learns that Ayers did attend Juilliard, but dropped out after two years.
Finding Ayers the next day, Lopez says he wants to write about him. Ayers doesn’t appear to be paying attention. Getting nowhere, Lopez finds and contacts Ayers’ sister, who gives the columnist the information he needs: Ayers was once a child prodigy with the cello, until he began displaying symptoms of schizophrenia at Juilliard.
Director: Joe Wright
Writers: Susannah Grant (screenplay), Steve Lopez (book)
Stars: Jamie Foxx, Robert Downey Jr., Catherine Keener, Tom Hollander, LisaGay Hamilton, Nelsan Ellis, Rachael Harris
►Cast:
| Jamie Foxx | … | Nathaniel Ayers |
| Robert Downey Jr. | … | Steve Lopez |
| Catherine Keener | … | Mary Weston |
| Tom Hollander | … | Graham Claydon |
| LisaGay Hamilton | … | Jennifer Ayers |
| Nelsan Ellis | … | David Carter |
| Rachael Harris | … | Leslie Bloom |
| Stephen Root | … | Curt Reynolds |
| Lorraine Toussaint | … | Flo Ayers |
| Justin Martin | … | Young Nathaniel |
| Kokayi Ampah | … | Bernie Carpenter |
| Patrick Tatten | … | Paul Jr. |
| Susane Lee | … | Marisa (as Susane E. Lee) |
| Marcos De Silvas | … | Mayor Villaraigosa |
| Ilia Volok | … | Harry Barnoff |
| Michael Bunin | … | Adam Crane |
| Mike Nowak | … | Julliard Conductor |
| Jena Malone | … | Cheery Lab Tech |
| Octavia Spencer | … | Troubled Woman |
| David Jean Thomas | … | Angry Homeless Man |
| Lemon Andersen | … | Uncle Tommy (as Lemon Anderson) |
| Kevin Michael Key | … | Homeless Transvestite |
| Moya Brady | … | Barely Dressed Woman |
| Orlando Ashley | … | LAMP Homeless Guy |
| Artel Great | … | Leon |
| J.J. Boone | … | Shouting Woman |
| Annie McKnight | … | LAMP Advocate |
| Bernadette Speakes | … | Homeless Lady |
| Anna Levin | … | Leeann (as Lee Anna Levin) |
| Steve Foster | … | Steve |
| Vivian George | … | Teresa (as Vivian Terresa George) |
| Kevin Cohen | … | KK |
| Courtney Andre | … | Courtney |
| Teri Hughes | … | Detroit |
| Linda Harris | … | Linda |
| Albert Olson | … | Bam Bam |
| Melissa Black | … | Melissa |
| Valarie Hudspeth | … | Mama Grouch |
| Darryl Black Sr. | … | Darryl |
| Kiana Parker | … | Kiana |
| Hazard Banner | … | Hazard |
| Russell Brown | … | Russell |
| Kenneth Henry | … | Simone |
| Jacqueline Sue West | … | Jackie |
| Joyre Manuel | … | Ashley |
| Lorinda Hawkins Smith | … | Singing Woman (as Lorinda Hawkins) |
| Annette Valley | … | Annette |
| Patrick Kelly | … | Patrick |
| Quiana Farrow | … | Quiana |
| Tony Genaro | … | Globe Lobby Guard |
| Charlie Weirauch | … | Atheist |
| Wayne Lopez | … | Cop With Tents |
| Joe Hernandez-Kolski | … | EMT #1 |
| Noel Gugliemi | … | Winston Street Cop (as Noel G.) |
| Paul Cruz | … | EMT #2 |
| Wil Garret | … | Homeless Man |
| Halbert Hernandez | … | EMT #3 (as Halbert Bernal) |
| Alejandro Patiño | … | Construction Worker |
| Karole Selmon | … | Homeless Woman #1 |
| Rob Nagle | … | Neil |
| Patricia Place | … | Cello Donor |
| Ralph Cole Jr. | … | Enraged Homeless Man |
| Gladys Khan | … | Reception Nurse (as Gladys Peters) |
| Palma Lawrence Reed | … | ER Nurse |
| Isabel Hubmann | … | Laid-Off Employee |
| Bonita Jefferson | … | Homeless Woman #2 |
| Eshana O’Neal | … | Winston Street Prostitute |
| Myia Hubbard | … | Young Jennifer Ayers |
| Iyanna Newborn | … | Miss Little John |
| Bronwyn Hardy | … | Beauty Shop Girl |
| Troy Blendell | … | New Editor |
| Nick Nervies | … | Jennifer’s Son |
| Paul Norwood | … | Editor |
| Don Abernathy | … | Los Angeles Times Employee |
| Justin Aguila | … | Homeless man |
| Rio Ahn | … | Mayor Villaraigosa’s Aide |
| Meggan Anderson | … | Flutist |
| Julia Anna Barrios | … | E.R Visitor (Hoochie) |
| Laura Beckner | … | Juilliard Student |
| Matt Besser | … | Commuter #4 |
| Elena Nikitina Bick | … | Ballerina |
| Kimberly Bishop | … | LA Times Staff |
| Pete Brown | … | Composer |
| Joshua Cabrera | … | Teenage Musician |
| Gerry Carbajal | … | Policeman |
| Jason Cekanski | … | Brawling Frat Guy |
| Mike Cochrane | … | Homeless Man |
| David Cohen | … | Photographer |
| Ingrid Coree | … | Nurse |
| Bridget Coulter | … | Disney Hall Patron |
| Elise D’Orazio | … | Concert Attendee |
| Doby Daenger | … | Mental Patient |
| Youlanda Davis | … | Bag Lady |
| Aurelius DiBarsanti | … | Paramedic |
| Bonita Dorssom | … | Airport Extra |
| Johnny Drocco | … | Hospital Orderly |
| Windy Duncan | … | Radisson Guest |
| Paul Edney | … | Driver |
| S. Zev Esquenazi | … | Sgt. Hendrickson |
| Angela Featherstone | … | Commuter #1 |
Sources: imdb & wikipedia