FILMS

‘Soloist’ underscores true charity

Reviewed by Rebecca Bostic | May 7, 2009 | The Catholic Sun

The role of soloist is one coveted by musicians throughout the world. It is understood as a position that proves one’s talent and worth.

While the film “The Soloist” (DreamWorks SKG) features musical talent that certainly deserves individual recognition, the overall message of the film makes it abundantly clear that being a soloist in life is an empty existence.

While the perils of extreme individualism are at the forefront, the real theme is the importance of developing charity. St. Augustine wrote that charity “fosters reciprocity and remains disinterested and generous; it is friendship and communion: Love is itself the fulfillment of all our works. There is the goal; that is why we run: we run toward it, and once we reach it, in it we shall find rest.”

The converging lives of the two main characters exemplify St. Augustine’s vision of charity.

The film begins with two very different men with two extremely different lives and values. Steve Lopez, played by Robert Downey Jr., is a columnist for The Los Angeles Times who meets Nathaniel Ayers, played by Jamie Foxx, a homeless man he finds playing the violin. At first, the journalist is only interested in the homeless man as a possible column topic. But that soon changes.

Throughout the film, Steve tries to make Nathaniel’s life better, giving the music school dropout instruments and finding him a place to stay. Yet as the film progresses it is clear, and not unpredictably so, that Steve is the one being uplifted.

Steve discovers that his efforts at a worldly understanding of charity continually fall short, and even harm Nathaniel. But eventually he understands the real charity he can offer — disinterested in personal benefit and wholly devoted to communion and friendship.

Love must be the goal and until that goal is brought to the forefront of your desires, you will be unsatisfied with charitable acts.

Downey Jr. and Foxx both provide tremendous, though short of extraordinary, performances; the supporting cast is just above mediocre. The film would have benefited from more careful work from director Joe Wright. He allows the story to run in too many directions, diluting the strength of the best aspects of the true story.

While generally positive, “The Soloist” does deal with the frightening reality of mental illness and homelessness in Los Angeles. The viewer is taken along the truly terrifying downward spiral with Nathanial. The desperate nature of his situation is further illustrated in the rough and dangerous world outside his mind.

“The Soloist” has many messages, an abundance of heart and a spectacular soundtrack. It’s a good film, but it should have been better.

Despite its weaknesses, “The Soloist” has a strong message about the nature and importance of genuine love. This beautiful message rings throughout the film as notes from a soloist in a symphony. Love is the most beautiful note and it is the one with which the symphony of life should be composed.

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Media critic Rebecca Bostic is a regular contributor to The Catholic Sun. Comments are welcome. Send e-mail to letters@catholicsun.org.