Why is it that in Hollywood prestige pictures, “genius” is so often preceded by “crazy”? Is it a way to reassure mediocre but levelheaded viewers that brilliance can only come at the expense of one’s sanity? Whatever it is, the trailer for The Soloist doesn’t give me much hope. I largely enjoyed director Joe Wright’s previous films Atonement and Pride & Prejudice (particularly the former), but this movie looks middlebrow and Oscar-baity in the worst way, with plenty of respectable classical music, a “based on a true story” hook, and plenty of attention-grabbing acting from Jamie Foxx. True, I’d rather see him putting forth an effort on the big screen than foisting From G’s to Gents on the American people, but I fear that giving him an Oscar for Ray has encouraged him to pursue Capital-A Acting!!! roles instead of the low-key turns like those he gives in Michael Mann films. Predictably, the saving grace of the trailer is Robert Downey Jr., who rescues it from being 2 ½ minutes of maudlin by the innate lack of sentimentality in his acting style. Otherwise, I’m afraid that this looks like a bit of a slog, though if reviews are good enough I’ll give it a whirl.
