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The Soloist
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Metascore
61 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 33 Critics What's this?

User Score
7.1 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 56 Ratings

Your Score
10 out of 10
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  • Starring: Catherine Keener, Jamie Foxx, Robert Downey Jr.
  • Summary: In The Soloist, an emotionally soaring drama about the redemptive power of music, journalist Steve Lopez discovers Nathaniel Anthony Ayers, a former classical music prodigy, playing his violin on the streets of L.A. As Lopez endeavors to help the homeless man find his way back, a unique friendship is formed, one that transforms both their lives. (Paramount)… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 33
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 33
  3. Negative: 0 out of 33
  1. Salon.com
    Reviewed by: Stephanie Zacharek
    90
    A triumphant movie about failure.
  2. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Kirk Honeycutt
    80
    Robert Downey Jr. and Jamie Foxx are on fire in the lead roles: They're both charismatic as hell without sacrificing any of the emotional honesty necessary for you to believe that these movie stars are a scruffy reporter and a mentally ill musician.
  3. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Manohla Dargis
    60
    The film is imperfect, periodically if unsurprisingly sentimental, overly tidy and often very moving.

See all 33 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 33
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 33
  3. Negative: 6 out of 33
  1. grandpajoe6191
    6
    The story might not know where the hell its going, but "The Soloist" at least succeeds in showing powerful performances of Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey Jr.… Expand
    • 2 of 2 users said yes
  2. jp992751
    4
    If not for the actors selling there roles The Soloist would have been a complete flop. Other than Foxx and Downey Jr. The Soloist has nothing going for it. The extremely unfocused film leaves its viewers wondering what the point of it was (Craziness has no cure? Homelessness is a personal choice? Homelessness is a problem everyone needs to be involved in? Classical music is under appreciated in society?)? The Soloist is slow and never really packs any sort of punch or sentimental moment and spends to much time building up a storyline with no real clear cut point, which is essential in a movie or better said character study such as this.… Expand
    • 1 of 2 users said yes
  3. JayH.
    3
    I despise these artsy fartsy pretentious films that go overboard on style and light on substance. It's overdone, overrated, overacted, overlong and after thirty minutes was over this glossy rubbish.… Expand
    • 1 of 2 users said yes

See all 33 User Reviews

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