Soloist

I watched the Soloist over the weekend. I was not impressed with the film. Love Jamie Foxx. But the film addressed too many issues. I felt I had to pay attention or I would miss the back and forth dialogue on homelessness, failed dreams, mental illness, and family.

Foxx's character Ayers made a good argument for folks who suffer mental illness and refusing to utilize overburden available resources to help them. Ayers could not be forced to take medicine. And taking the medicine did not necessary mean that Ayers would be able to maintain a lifestyle of a gifted musician. But, Ayers condition did not mean he should not be treated with dignity nor was he totally disconnected from the real world.

The film demonstrated a support of family does not necessary prevent a person suffering from mental illness from being homelessness. Sometime these folks become a danger to the family members attempting to help them. This was the most heart breaking to me to see Ayers turn on his sister. At the end Ayers is reunited to his sister who had to let Ayers be on Ayers thought he was.

The film hit a cord with those of us who believe we can rescue people. Lopez the reporter was on a mission to cure Ayers of his mental illness and introduce him to lifestyle of mainstream. Ayers called the reporter who befriends him his God. But the reporter would discover he was limited in his power of God to restore Ayers to the genius. Lopez felt Ayers could truly be celebrated, if Ayers was just in the right environment and on the right amount of meds.

Lopez would discovered that his needs for Ayers was not Ayers reality. Ayers confronts Lopez's superior stance. Ayers announces he is still a man even if mentally ill and will fight to the death to be treated as such even if he is mentally ill. The message was not lost on Lopez who now had to listen to Ayers need instead of Ayers listening to the demands of Lopez.

This will be a great educational movie but not movie goers seeking to be entertained.