We recently saw the Jamie Foxx/Robert Downey film called the Soloist. It had gotten rave reviews from some critics and we were excited to go see it. The film is entertaining but ultimately unsatisfying. There simply isn't much in the true story of a schizophrenic homeless cello player played convincingly, if somewhat sparsely, by Jamie Foxx, to make a movie of. Reminds me of the song "The Movie" by the Doors --

The program for this evening is not new
You've seen this entertainment
through and through
You've seen your birth your life and death
you might recall all of the rest
Did you have a good world when you died?
Enough to base a movie on?.

Yes, there is that realistic tenor that a true story brings where there really are no winners. However, that isn't the problem with the film -- it essentially is that there really isn't much of a story. At 117 minutes it is about 20 minutes too long. The gritty look at Skid row is jarring but somewhat beside the point and further dilutes the main story.