The Soloist - Exclusive Interview with Jamie Foxx

As distinctive and complicated a person as Nathaniel Ayers is, the filmmakers knew that the character would be an extremely demanding one to portray. After all, what actor would be able to travel the distance between Nathaniels undeniable genius and his unalterable moments of mental imbalance? Fortunately, almost as soon as the script was completed, Academy Award® winner Jamie Foxx expressed interest in the role. The actor was looking forward to using the same focus and commitment he had shown in his rich portrait of Ray Charles in Ray, and hit the ground running. Although he came to the production with the advantage of being a highly accomplished musician in his own right, he spent six intensive months learning advanced cello and violin techniques. Notes Gary Foster: From the outset, Jamies appetite for this role was voracious and he grabbed it to the point where he moved away from his life during filming. We rented him an apartment to play the cello and think about the next days scenes without interference from his normal existence. He really put himself inside this bubble and I cannot thank him enough for understanding what it was going to take to play this part. Adds Joe Wright: Jamie has a heart the size of America and a very sensitive and gentle one at that. I believe he really loves Nathaniel, which was so important. Foxx immediately had an emotional reaction when he first read the script on a plane to London. I guess altitude makes you even more emotional and I was getting misty on the plane, he says. Its so seldom you find a character captured with so many nuances and have everything work so well together on the page. I thought it was amazing. Its a story about how trying to understand someone elses world can take you a long way in your own, and its really a beautiful love story. Soon after taking on the role, Foxx met the real-life Nathaniel Ayers, which kicked everything into high gear. It was just great to meet him, to get to know him up close and personal, to really be able to see his passion for music and his day-to-day life, says the actor. I wanted to get his speech down, I wanted to get all his subtleties down but, most of all, I wanted to capture his spirit. Foxx understood that accomplishing the latter was going to take him to some dark and uneasy places, as well as some magical ones. It was tough, he admits, because I had to try to submerge myself into the mind of a schizophrenic in order to really understand what Nathaniels journey is all about. You have to kind of slip off the deep end a bit, and the biggest challenge was letting go. Still, no matter how strange Nathaniels reality could be at times, Foxx held on to a deep respect for his individuality and his sheer resourcefulness in navigating the twists and turns life throws at him. The thing that makes Nathaniel like everyone else is that he is a person who is trying to make sense of the world. He has all these thoughts floating around, and hes trying to make sense of them, says Foxx. From the outside looking in, it looks like hes disturbed but actually I think he has figured out how to remain functional in his own way in our society. What seems abnormal to us is normal for Nathaniel. Thats his mojo, thats how he gets around. And, even while hes in this homeless situation, hes toiling with these great dreams. The deeper he got into Nathaniels way of seeing the world, the more Foxx realized just how strange his first encounter with Steve Lopez must have been. I think he thought maybe this guy was a dream or something, observes Foxx. And he certainly didnt get why someone would want to write articles about him. They start off butting heads because Steve wants to save this guys life and Nathaniel doesnt think his life needs saving. Yet, these two people who begin on opposite ends of the spectrum end up discovering each others worlds.

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[jazino123]

Jamie Foxx is a serious performer his Acting is high level and so is his Singing.

[starr522]

Jamie Foxx is a hell of a man.

[rawrmeaniloveu]

My like number one favorite movie.

[aznSensation58]

i play the cello and i must say this is one of the best movies ive ever seen... and interviewer guy... its cellist... not "celloist"

[aznSensation58]

i play the cello and i must say this is one of the best movies ive ever seen



[DWINC]

not as good as I hoped for with two great actors. His best work is Ray.

[thumbsdownmotha]

Quite possibly the best movie I've ever seen

[TheRockHBKfan]

@CoIoRearte Wauw, that was just... Beautiful.

I wish the best for you, and your friend :)

[CoIoRearte]

@TheRockHBKfan I agree, schizophrenics are not "stupid" people, I have a very close relative that has schizophrenia, she lived on the streets and run away from several hospitals so this movie helped me to understand more her suffering..The soundtrack touched me vey deeply, and I don't tend to cry while watching a movie...JF part was wonderful and I have a lot of respect towards him Kind regards

[TheRockHBKfan]

@Mark0wnsYou Well, you might know this - but Mr. Ayers talked like that, back then.

I think he did a amazing job. And by the way - he did not go "full retard". Being mentally challenged does not make you a full retard.

And just so we make it clear? I don't think it's Robert's actual advice, but the writers to Tropic Thunders.. ;)

[Mark0wnsYou]

@TheRockHBKfan best actor of the world has ever seen lol he is good, but I mean come on, RBJ was better, and about "his" role he plays a retard...personally I think that he made of fun them more, then actually portrayed them, I hate how he talks in the movie... Its so cheesy like watching an english dub of an anime... He should take roberts advise and "never go full retard.

[BoredDank]

@jazino123 when did he sing??