An unusual true story, an unlikely friendship of two men set in the suburbs of Los Angeles that tackles the harsh realities of homelessness and the plight of the mentally ill.

Based on a book by Steve Lopez, Robert Downey Jr. takes on the role of Steve Lopez, an award-winning columnist with the Los Angeles Times who deals with the plight of Nathaniel Ayers (Jamie Foxx), a homeless schizophrenic and gifted musician.

Struck by a recent bicycle accident, his face smattered with lines of dried blood, Lopez is on his way to work as usual, until while on his route he discovers Ayers, playing Beethoven exquisitely on a violin with two strings. Lopez listens to him and is captivated by this extraordinary talent, even through its played on a half-broken instrument. Ayers’ music of Beethoven is played below the statue of the maestro, a place close to where Ayers has also made his temporary home… a place on the streets.

A second visit and Lopez is taken up by his plight. He writes a series of human-interest articles about him and the situation of the homeless in LA that capture the public’s imagination. Estranged from his family and battling a mental illness, Lopez befriends Ayers day by day and moves into his past, unknown of the problems that are to come. Lopez soon learns of the harsh realities of Ayers and those like him. He tries to get Ayers off the streets, even going to the extent of reconciling Ayers sister for a meeting, putting Ayers in a home for homeless and winning his friendship. Inspite of all this Ayers is freaky, as the past still comes back to him.

Can Lopez help Ayers erase his past and win him despite his revolting nature?

‘The Soloist’ is targeted for a mature audience, for its drama, music and a moral at the end. The film by British director Joe Wright ("Atonement") is an eye-opener to the LA street life of the homeless. The two actors work beautifully together, playing characters who are angry and frustrated in their different ways. A very moving and a well-made film, minus the Hollywood traps. It shows the strong bonding between two people…… one black, the other white.

Director Joe Wright

Cast: Jamie Foxx, Robert Downey Jr.

Rating: *****

Reviewed by Verus Ferreira