'The Soloist' - High-Def Digest Review

[chris619]

i've been wanting to watch this for some time ...i'm definitely waiting for the 'magic' price (of all new releases to hit 15) before grabbing it

[GardenVariety]

Just picked this up and watched it last night. While the story was intriguing, I can see why it wasn't a big hit. The theme, while based on music, was in fact little about music. It was mostly about a friendship and a mental illness. I didn't find it that uplifting and didn't even find the cello playing very impressive. Overall I was impressed by the AQ and the PQ but the movie left me disappointed. Robert Downey was the high point in this movie... as always.

[STR8UP&DOWN]

I was really disappointed in this. Great acting, but nothing else really worked for me.

I gotta ask ...

You were really disappointed in ... ?

Great acting ... isn't that what you want in a movie?

I liked it. Actually, I see an Oscar nom for Foxx with this one.

[Reiter]

I gotta ask ...

You were really disappointed in ... ?

Great acting ... isn't that what you want in a movie?

I liked it. Actually, I see an Oscar nom for Foxx with this one.

Acting alone doesn't make a movie good.
I was disappointed in pretty much EVERYTHING else.

[STR8UP&DOWN]

Acting alone doesn't make a movie good.
I was disappointed in pretty much EVERYTHING else.

That's my question. If the acting was great, what exactly were you disappointed in?

Was it too short?
Was it too long?
Were there too many pigeons?
Were the homeless people too dirty?

[Reiter]

Story? Boring. Uninteresting. Unemotional. Flashbacks/"Voices in the head" scenes that didn't work AT ALL. There wasn't anything except the acting that made me connect to the film. Nothing that made me want to continue watching except my insistence to finish movies I watch.
Characters? Underdeveloped. Uninteresting. Unemotional. Am I supposed to care about Ayers? I didn't. I didn't care about ANY of these people.
Although after I watched it, I looked up the real story and...I didn't find it all that interesting, so I don't know who to blame.

[Filmmaker]

I didn't care about ANY of these people.
Although after I watched it, I looked up the real story and...I didn't find it all that interesting, so I don't know who to blame.

Confucius say: "the smella is the fella!"

[MrAngles]

I liked the movie a lot but I never want to see it again, i found it fairly disturbing. I don't like the idea of mental illness.

[STR8UP&DOWN]

I liked the movie a lot but I never want to see it again, i found it fairly disturbing. I don't like the idea of mental illness.

In that regard, I think maybe it was effective, then. I think it was supposed to be disturbing. Addressing the issue of homelessness and/or mental illness is probably something no one "likes" to talk about.

And the thing about mental illness is ... it's real ... and it can happen to anybody at any time ... and you might not even be aware of it.

[MrAngles]

And the thing about mental illness is ... it's real ... and it can happen to anybody at any time ... and you might not even be aware of it.

That was the most disturbing thing about the film for me, I now am paranoid that I'll suddenly lose my facilities any day... it could be happening right now...

[STR8UP&DOWN]

That was the most disturbing thing about the film for me, I now am paranoid that I'll suddenly lose my facilities any day... it could be happening right now...

LOL. Not to make fun, but that can be how it starts!

What are they called ... hypochondriacs (spelling?)?

You could drive yourself crazy, worrying about going crazy!

[typ44q]

well I just finished watching this movie and I really enjoyed it and would recommend it to any of my friends.

[HiRez]

well I just finished watching this movie and I really enjoyed it and would recommend it to any of my friends.

Is there any replay value to it, or is it a "once is enough" kind of film?

[STR8UP&DOWN]

Is there any replay value to it, or is it a "once is enough" kind of film?

I think the fact that they really enjoyed it, is what gives it "replay value".

[nickdalodger]

Is there any replay value to it, or is it a "once is enough" kind of film?

I would say this is a 3-4 year film, as in watch every 3-4 years, great film, worth a watch, the wife loved it, I thought it was good, but not a once a year film, bit heavy in parts but otherwise well acted and the story was good, but lets say I wouldn't stick it on to cheer me up!