The Soloist

[TheBoySeggy]

It is a very good film... two actors really acting. I was never a big fan of Downey Jnr, until Ironman, but in this film he reminds people he has screen presence. As for Jamie Foxx, his best performance since Ray. It's definintely not one for action and adrenaline junkies though.

[Ms Thrifty]

Just back from seeing this, courtesy of Andrews, and I really enjoyed it. The attendance seemed better than average - I was a bit later than usual and even by 10 past 6 the auditorium was quite full. The audience seemed older than average also - it would be interesting to know where else people got tickets. I always like Robert Downey Jr, though he doesn't crop up too often and Catherine Keener is one of my favourite actresses. It's quite a long film but rewards patience. I know some of the facts were changed but I suppose there were limits to the liberties which could be taken as both the main characters are real people; this might explain the ending, refreshingly muted by Hollywood standards.

[Beate]

I know that everyone around me loved it. Me, I was just extremely tired tonight and that might have clouded my enjoyment of the film. I didn't think the mental illness aspect was explored enough (it was never really explained why they thought he shouldn't be put on any medication), and I thought the film was generally dragging on a bit. The topic of how you can end up on the street even though you are gifted and the world should be your oyster came across but I would have liked to see more of Nathaniel's past life. Robert Downey Jr can do no wrong for me but I don't think I understood his relationship to Catherine Keener - was she his ex-wife? Tom Hollander was embarrassingly funny as God-loving cellist drafted in to give Nathaniel lessons and I loved the scene where Steve and Nathaniel go to the rehearsal of a classical concert and when Nathaniel closes his eyes you can see the colours he is seeing just by listening. The conductor of that concert wasn't an actor btw, he was real - my colleague who is an avid concert goer explained to me that he is now conducting at the Royal Festival Hall!

7.5/10

[Ms Thrifty]

As I understood it, Mary and Steve were divorced and there were references to their son - Tom? It seemed odd that they still worked together, though I wasn't clear what exactly Mary's job was - was she Steve's editor? She certainly seemed still to carry a torch for him, though he was oblivious to this. Her bitter and pointed remarks when she was drunk at the dinner event hinted at the reason for the breakdown of the marriage. So far as Nathaniel not taking medication was concerned, I think this was part of the general principle that none of the homeless members of the Lamp Community should have anything forced on them, be it medication, activities, a roof over their heads, etc. You certainly saw how things turned out badly when Steve tried to push Nathaniel too hard in any respect, e.g. using a flat for a lesson, giving a recital or signing a contract.

[Calicocat]

Just back from seeing this at Cineworld, Glasgow. The cinema was probably about 65% full or thereabouts.

My mum and I both really enjoyed the film, and the 2 hours really didn't feel like it. I hadn't appreciated until the end that it was based on a true story.

I can't think of too much else to say about it - apart from the fact that I enjoyed it !!


8/10

CalicoCat

[nintendo]

Despite a great performace from foxx, the film did seem to lose direction as it went on and consequently went by very slowly. I too would have liked to have seen more backstory for the character of Nathaniel, and was also left wondering why none of the characters pushed harder for him to seek psychological help.

6/10 from me

[katiepoll3]

I saw this at Glasgow Cineworld too. The cinema staff stopped the film before the titles had really started to roll at the end, so it seemed to finish a little abruptly. Maybe I'm alone in this, but I actually like to read who made the film, and find out who was in it, and sometimes there's an extra bit if you can be bothered to hang around.
Well, I suppose I'll never know about this one....

It was an ok film. I thought Jamie Foxx was great in Ray, and less great in this. I felt sometimes the film makers were asking the audience to take a big leap in the story, and fill in quite a few gaps for themselves.

Maybe a 5/10.

[mattgad]

I didn't like it. Maybe I just didn't get into the storyline. The accident at the start seemed pointless, and had no connection to anything else. (If anyone knows of a hospital that can take out stitches, and heal your head that quickly, let me know.). I didn't think enough emphasis was put on Nathaniel's condition. Mary's character was not explained at all, and that left me a bit confused as to who she was and what she did.

6 people walked out during this one, and I am surprised to hear that so many really enjoyed it.

[mdweaver]

Saw this at West India Quay (thanks ucakpam for the tickets). Generally enjoyed it, a film making a social comment, and it kept my interest for the full 116 minutes (which didn't drag in my opinion despite the long running time). Jamie Foxx was very convincing as someone struggling with a mental illness.

I prefer films like this about real issues/true stories than the standard hollywood blockbuster with a zillion car chases and pointless explosions. A 7.5 from me.

[Ms Thrifty]

Forgot to ask: did other venues have that weird Tellten ad, which I have never seen before, despite having been to other Tellten previews? At Crawley we had a couple of other ads, too, which was also new. But no trailers.