The Soloist is the story of Nathaniel Anthony Ayers (Jamie Foxx) and how the former musical prodigy ended up among the 90,000 homeless in Los Angeles. At one time Nathaniel  was a promising and gifted cellist that seemed destined to become one of the world's elite. However, while attending college at Julliard, Nathaniel slowly begins to become unnerved. He sees himself go from gifted student to schizophrenic. Years later, he ends up in Los Angeles playing a 2 string violin in a park where he has a chance encounter with reporter Steve Lopez (Robert Downey Jr).  Lopez is amazed by how beautifully Nathaniel is able to play that he decides that Nathaniel's story is one that deserves to be told.  

Throughout the movie Lopez finds himself almost uncontrollably immersed in Nathaniel's life. He  takes on the near noble challenge of trying to get Nathaniel back on track to becoming a concert cellist. As they navigate their journey a very unconventional friendship begins to blossom. While Lopez sees himself as the do-gooder that will change Nathaniel's fortune, Nathaniel's love for music and the freedom it seems to give him inspires Lopez to reconnect the things he loves in his life(mainly his ex-wife)played by Catherine Keener 

Ultimately there is no winner. Nathaniel is no closer to fulfilling his potential as a musician nor is he on the road to mental health. The light that his story has placed on the homeless situation has not made any significant impact on the crisis. In the end this story is about making the best of things you can't control. As the billboards for this movie have informed us “Life has a mind of it's own”  

I really enjoyed this movie. Jamie Foxx gives an outstanding performance in a type of role we haven't seen him in before. Robert Downey Jr. turns in an solid performances as journalist even I didn't feel the chemistry between him and Catherine Keener's. Overall this a good movie. Great story. Great dialogue. Good Acting. What more could you ask for.