2008 AFI Fest to Open With ‘The Soloist’

Joe Wright’s The Soloist will be making its North American premiere as the opening night film of the 2008 AFI Fest in Los Angeles. In the film, Jamie Foxx plays Nathaniel Ayers, the true-life musical prodigy who succumbed to schizophrenia and ended up homeless on the streets of Los Angeles. Robert Downey, Jr. plays the journalist who discovered him.

At first glance, it’s blatant Oscar bait and it may well turn out as such, but Joe Wright (Pride & Prejudice, Atonement) has yet to steer me wrong, Downey Jr. can always be counted on for an interesting performance and the trailer showed me an energy and a humorous edge I wasn’t expecting.

The Soloist opens in theaters on November 21.

6 Responses to “2008 AFI Fest to Open With ‘The Soloist’”

  1. The trailer makes the film look boringly predictable. But as you say, with Wright and Downey Jr involved there is some basis for hope.

  2. I’m totally there.

    Not at the AFI Fest, of course, but at the movie.

  3. It’s funny Sartre, as I said in the trailer thread, I already assumed the movie would be boring and predictable, but something about the trailer caught my interest.

    Come on out to AFI Daniel! We’ll have a blast.

  4. Don’t I know it. Actually that’s during election week, isn’t it? I think I’ll stay indoors lest people take to the streets with pitchforks and torches…

  5. Yes, Angelinos have been known to riot when we don’t get our way…

  6. Danny, when I read what you wrote this morning (comment #4 specifically) I actually laughed. OUT LOUD.

    Not to worry. Though there are always dark forces present that are beyond our control (as everyone who’s seen the first STAR WARS trilogy can attest to), I have the feeling that the tide is going to turn.

    Justice will prevail and the sun will set. Magnificently.

    Everything will fall into its proper place.

    Take a deep breath, keep your fingers crossed - and then LET IT ALL GO…….

Leave a Reply


Advertisement

Advertisement