A Los Angeles journalist befriends a homeless Juilliard-trained musician, while looking for a new article for the paper.
Acting
Foxx's committed, unsanitized portrayal of schizophrenia.
Direction
Wright's visual symphony when music takes over.
Score
Beethoven becomes a third character.
Director
Joe Wright
Robert Downey Jr.
Steve Lopez
Jamie Foxx
Nathaniel Ayers
Catherine Keener
Mary Weston
Tom Hollander
Graham Claydon
Nelsan Ellis
David Carter
Michael Bunin
Adam Crane
LisaGay Hamilton
Jennifer Ayers
Rachael Harris
Leslie Bloom
Stephen Root
Curt Reynolds
Lorraine Toussaint
Flo Ayers
Jena Malone
Cheery Lab Tech
Octavia Spencer
Troubled Woman
Justin Martin
Young Nathaniel
Patrick Tatten
Paul Jr.
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Jamie Foxx practiced cello for months; his coach was the real Nathaniel Ayers's former Juilliard classmate.
The film quietly critiques 2007-era LA's Skid Row policies that criminalized homelessness while offering no housing.
US
