The story is compelling, the actors are in place, but i was never sure what the filmmakers wanted me to feel about it. Apr 22, 2009 the soloist has all the elements of an uplifting drama, except for the uplift. This guide will also work well as a sub plan for your substitute teacher. Apr 24, 2009 the soloist is the true story of lopezs discovery of, and fitful friendship with, nathaniel anthony ayers jamie foxx, a homeless, schizophrenic cello player. The recently and ubiquitiously released the soloist tells the true story of an unlikely friendship between a journalist, steve lopez, and a homeless, schizophrenic musician, nathaniel ayers.
For all his setbacks, he still finds hope and sanity in the. The soloist, based on a book by lopez of the same name, chronicles the unlikely story of these two mens pilgrimage, a journey into the darkness of mental illness lit by the flickering flames of friendship. New reality of the soloist 10 years after film about him daily mail. Jan 15, 2018 the life of nathaniel anthony ayers, 65, is the true story behind the 2009 film, the soloist, staring jamie foxx and robert downey jr. Ideal for a unit about mental health if you download this freebie, please leave feedback.
Through additional examination steve lopez finds that nathaniel was a talented trainee at julian a school of the carrying out arts in new york. Dec 09, 20 in this stirring and inspiring drama based on a true story starring academy awardwinner jamie foxx and academy awardnominee robert downey jr. The soloist is a 2009 drama film directed by joe wright, and starring jamie foxx and robert downey jrit is based on the book of the same title by steve lopez. Lopez meets nathaniel ayers jamie foxx, a homeless schizophrenic, playing his violin on the street. The soloist was a fantastic movie featuring robert downey jr. Soloist, the dvd academy award nominee robert downey jr. The soloist has all the elements of an uplifting drama, except for the uplift. According to martin historian mike longworth, martin built two schoenberg soloist om cutaway prototypes bearing the serial numbers 467,821 and 467,822. The columns began in 2005 and the book was published in 2008. Nathaniel ayers is a talented african american musician, who was diagnosed with a severe mental illness and ended up homeless on the streets. The soloist is the true story of lopezs discovery of, and fitful friendship with, nathaniel anthony ayers jamie foxx, a homeless, schizophrenic cello player.
The soloist based on the true story of musical prodigy nathaniel ayers, who developed schizophrenia in his second year at juilliard and ended up homeless on the streets of downtown l. In this stirring and inspiring drama based on a true story starring academy awardwinner jamie foxx and academy awardnominee robert downey jr. The life of nathaniel anthony ayers, 65, is the true story behind the 2009 film, the soloist, staring jamie foxx and robert downey jr. The soloist is a movie based on steve lopezs bookby the samename and is based on the true story of nathaniel ayers, a musician who develops schizophrenia and becomes homeless in the movie, steve lopez robert downey, jr. Fortunately, the soloists complex story is not easily destroyed. The soloist is a hauntingly beautiful, deeply moving story of a gifted musician who is unable to make health, cleanliness or other basic choices in life. Such is the trajectory of the soloist, at this point a bestselling book in the us and also a movie, starring robert downey jr as a. The true story behind the soloist video business insider. You have to continue reading the story behind the soloist. New reality of the soloist 10 years after film about him.
The soloist actually gets it right to a point the globe. The soloistjust show up and be a friend preaching today. The soloist brings to life its story with genuine compassion, neatly avoiding many of the traps that afflict hollywood films about mental illness. The deal with writing a column is, its like having a pet monster thats always hungry, lopez said. Nathaniel ayers is the main character in the soloist, a book that is based on a true story about a press reporter who befriends a homeless street musician. Times columnist steve lopez and street musician nathaniel anthony ayers, the true story depicted in aprils paramount movie the soloist. Apr 22, 2009 the soloist tells the story of nathaniel ayers, a homeless cellist who has schizophrenia. However, in 2006 eric schoenberg received a consignment guitar in his shopa soloist with the serial number 467,588. Times, and nathaniel ayers, a talented musician and homeless schizophrenic living out of a grocery cart. A newspaper journalist discovers a homeless musical genius and tries to improve his situation. Based on the true story of nathaniel ayer, this free 5 page movie guide accompanies the film the soloist 2009. A newspaper journalist discovers a homeless musical genius and. The film is based on the true story of nathaniel ayers, a musician who developed schizophrenia and became homeless.
Its about friendship, compassion, and the homeless. Weve all heard movies described as based on a true story, but what does that actually mean. The true story of journalist steve lopezs discovery of nathanial ayers, a former classical bass student at julliard, playing his heart out on a twostring vio. And jamie foxxs transformation will simply astound. The screenplay by susannah grant is based on the book, the soloist by steve lopez. The story behind the soloist american libraries magazine. Nami mercer nj hosted a benefit screening of the soloist last night at the garden theater in princeton. It begins in 2005 when lopez, on the lookout as always for a good column idea, hears a violin on the streets of downtown l. Story continues below advertisement to its credit, the soloist is a far cry from the traditional movie portrayal of schizophrenics as murderous people with.
The soloist overcame his homelessness with a little help from his. Apr 24, 2009 fortunately, the soloists complex story is not easily destroyed. The soloist tells the story of nathaniel ayers, a homeless cellist who has schizophrenia. There are thousands of nathaniel ayers out there, says. The film and the book the soloist tells the true story of an unlikely friendship between steve lopez, a reporter for the l. The soloist manages to avoid the dumbing down that often happens when a true story is made into a movie. The soloist is a 2009 american film based on the true story of nathaniel ayers, a juilliard musical prodigy who has schizophrenia. The soloist is a 2009 drama film directed by joe wright, and starring jamie foxx and robert downey jr.
It also steers clear of message movie heavy handedness though only just, even though it has plenty to say about mental illness and l. Based on a true story, it stars jamie foxx as nathaniel ayers, a homeless man who was once a musical prodigy, and robert downey jr. How a journalist discovered a musical prodigy sleeping rough and their story became a hit film. The new york times bestselling true story that inspired the major motion picturean unforgettable tale of hope, heart and humanitypeople. But everyone around him, everyone who loves him is trapped in a vicious cycle of needing to help him, of continuing to hope, and of fighting the illusion that he can be. Nathaniel anthony ayers is a musical prodigy who was on the. The screenplay written by susannah grant is based on the book, the soloist by steve lopez and it is based on the true story of nathaniel ayers, a musician who developed schizophrenia and became. Steve lopez is also the main character of the film, and the film essentially chronicles the events which supposedly led to the writing of the book. It is based on the true story of nathaniel ayers, a musician who developed schizophrenia and became homeless. The soloist is based on the true story of a prodigy and schizophrenic musician who has become homeless. Times writer, steve lopez, has his life changed forever. For all his setbacks, he still finds hope and sanity in. The soloist is a film based upon the true story of. Aug 26, 2018 the soloist was a fantastic movie featuring robert downey jr.
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