A recommended viewing: “The Soloist”
August 20, 2009
Dear fellow Transmissioners,
¬†¬†If you are looking to find¬†a state of grace this weekend, I highly¬†recommend renting “The Soloist.”¬†¬† While I thought I’d be getting a typical story of “rich man¬†becomes better by helping poor,” what I received instead was a film that¬†engages the soul.
A film experience like that is a¬†rarity these days, and it’s even rarer to find a film that speaks the wisdom of¬†Christ without preaching at the audience.
¬†¬†”The Soloist”¬†tells the true story of Nathaniel Ayers, a musical prodigy and a schizophrenic.¬† He¬†was gifted and made his way to Julliard, before¬†his untreated illness brought him into anguish and ruin, leaving him¬†homeless and alone.¬† Years after his collapse, he meets Steve Lopez, a¬†LA Times reporter (Robert Downey Jr.) who is¬†doing fine in his career but is just as alone as¬†Ayers.
¬†¬† The two of them form a friendship, and¬†Lopez¬†learns about Ayers’ past while also learning about the realities of¬†Skid Row’s homeless population and the difficulties of trying to “cure” the mentally ill.¬†¬†At first, Ayers is Lopez’¬†best new story, and then Lopez takes him on as¬†his own private cause, which leads both of them in the wrong direction.¬† It is only in¬†deciding to be his friend, and knowing¬†the limits of their relationship, that he is able to create something that can last.
¬†¬† The film is¬†incredibly done.¬† The acting by Foxx is superb, and Downey continues to amaze me with¬†the depth he¬†brings to¬†his¬†roles.¬† This is one of the most mature performances I’ve ever seen by him.
  I recommend it here because I know that we as Christians feel an obligation to serve the needy, and this film does an incredible job of looking at how that could really look.  It challenges the idea that we can save the poor or cure them, and it challenges the notion that all severely damaged people need is love or faith to get better.  In the end, (spoiler) the steps that Nathaniel makes are just a few steps forward, but the real cured party is Lopez: he is able to see for the first time that true friendship demands integrity, respect, and sacrifice.
   I heartily recommend this film and hope you enjoy it.
Singer, songwriter, and percussionist 
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Musician and author