Matt here…

It’s been YEARS since Robert Downey Jr. last played a character that wasn’t almost in part an eccentric version of himself. Iron Man, Charlie Bartlett, Zodiac... all variations of the flamboyant, cocky but often cynical, alcohol dependent drunk who is looking for a purpose in life.

And he is back doing the same gig in The Soloist but when he is so damn watchable and interesting, do we care?

Based on the fascinating true story of musical prodigy Nathaniel Ayers (Jamie Foxx) who developed schizophrenia and ended up homeless on the streets of downtown L.A, where he peforms solo sessions with a violin and cello!

Told from the p.o.v. of journalist Steve Lopez (Robert Downey Jr.) who wants to tell Ayers’ story to the world, the movie delves into the close bond and friendship that formed between the two unlikely strangers.

This looks top, top notch. It’s from British director Joe Wright, the man responsible for Atonement and Pride & Prejudice. Finally now he has the material and acting talent to show how good a director he really is.

Yahoo Movies premieres The Soloist trailer in HD HERE.

Love it. It doesn’t feel like it’s trying too hard like so many uplifting Academy Award baiting tales do, Foxx and Downey Jr. look to hit exactly the right note with their performances. Nothing too showy, a lot of gravitas in their work here.

It’s one of those movies, you know exactly which beats are going to happen. You could almost map it out scene by scene. I remember Ron Howard’s brilliant Cinderella Man was very much like that a few years ago but when the direction, the acting and the writing is so good… when it carries this much feeling, well you just don’t care.

The Dreamworks movie gets a theatrical run from November 21st in the U.S. but us Brits won’t get it till February.

source – coming soon