Reginald Black, Vendor
It was April 2, 2009 and some of us in the Street Sense family were invited to a private screening of a new Dream Works Film. The screening took place at the Regal Theater on 7th Street NW. I arrived early and took my seat. It wasn’t long before our feature began. The movie is called The Soloist. In the first few minutes I was clueless. What could this motion picture be about, I wondered, as the opening credits rolled by. The crowd was attentive and ready. Little did any of us know that we were about to watch a story played out over and over again through our cities across the world.
The story follows a newspaper columnist named Steve Lopez, played by Robert Downey, Jr. as he writes about a very interesting person and subject. Steve is brainstorming a new piece for his column and has a bike accident that severely scars his face. He then hears a very curious but beautiful sound: a violin played by a homeless man named Nathaniel J. Ayers, portrayed by Jamie Foxx. Steve and Nathaniel’s first meeting is odd, but Steve seems to know that this man’s music would be a good piece for his column.
I was intrigued to watch as the reporter was able to reach out to those that Nathaniel couldn’t find: his former school and the sister who Nathaniel left behind. Steve discovers that Nathaniel is mentally ill and seems content with life on the streets. As Steve writes his column about Nathaniel, public support grows and so does their friendship, as Nathaniel touches Steve’s heart. Steve goes through great lengths to try and help Nathaniel. It confuses Steve. and I could feel his anguish when it looked like he had given up after a spat with Nathaniel. He often visited places Nathaniel lived and even spent entire nights with him. Steve even tries sleeping on the street.
I was moved by the beautiful scenes of Nathaniel playing his instrument of choice, the cello; and just watching the ups and downs of homelessness on the big screen touched me in a profound way. I almost cried several times. The picture was filmed well and edited nearly perfectly. Robert and Jamie played their roles perfectly, but the overall depiction of homelessness was overdrawn as there were many parts of the movie that just are not a part of homelessness.
I believe all should see this movie. It’s just another way someone in the public eye will be able to advocate homelessness and poverty, much like I do by selling Street Sense. The movie gets a whopping five street blocks from this excited vendor. I hope our readers will look for this movie and check it out.
Patricia Jefferson, Vendor
The movie The Soloist, which starts Jamie Foxx, was a good depiction of the homeless community. I appreciated attending the preview of the movie along with the Street Sense gang. The movie depicted homeless men and women who were just hanging around in their own setting. Some scenes remind me of the parks here in the District of Columbia, where the homeless community congregates throughout the day. The movie was colorful and bold, yet sad.
The movie also revealed that homeless people are talented individuals, and need recognition. I particularly like the scene where Jamie played his instrument so intensely, as though he were playing at Carnegie Hall.
