Ones To Watch #9 - The Soloist

#9

The Soloist (dir. Wright)

Expected Release Date: 11th Sept

Starring: Jamie Foxx, Robert Downey Jr & Catherine Keener

Studio: Universal Pictures

The Soloist is the third film to be directed by the young and talented Joe Wright, following Pride & Prejudice and Atonement.

Originally slated for release during the 2008-09 Oscar season (i.e. winter), The Soloist, written by Erin Brokovich scribe Susannah Grant, tells the story of a schizophrenic homeless musician, Nathaniel Ayers (Foxx), who dreams of performing at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez (Downey Jr) develops a strong friendship with Nathaniel and helps him to achieve his dream.

Frankly, the plot sounds mildly interesting though wildly sentimental. Atonement, managed to sway on the intellectual side towards its final act which perhaps dampened any sort of emotional impact the coda could have provided.

The two leads will surely create an unerring relationship on screen. Downey Jr, at the crux of his latest comeback can inject a great deal into a role which he has played to a similar degree in Zodiac (without a penchant for turquoise cocktails). For Foxx this could be the role that revitalises his acting career after almost five years in the relative doldrums, signing up to roles stretching him at best to autopilot. We know he can play the piano, after his Oscar maiming performance in Ray, so hopefully the screenplay will stretch his performance into a poignant performance.

Joe Wright has a lot to prove moving away from pretty period settings to a thoroughly modern film set in downtown Los Angeles. It is also the first film he has directed in which the leading roles played by American actors and it will be intriguing to see how he handles any extra pressure that comes his way.

Atonement was arguably the polished version of a more roughly cut diamond in Pride & Prejudice. Excitingly, having broken down the door with Atonement, Joe Wright, like fellow Brit auteurs Sam Mendes and Stephen Daldry, will have hopefully sown the seeds to create a diverse film repertoire enriched with storytelling verve to embed him in the filmmaking elite.

The Soloist marks the first litmus test to that worthy acheivement and for that reason alone I cannot wait to see what will be concocted.