9/20/2008 7:23 PM
Joanne Davi wrote:
This movie looks amazing. My whole family cannot wait to see it, and I am definitely promoting it to all of my friends. My favorite actor of all time has the starring role, and I have been truly inspired Mr. Lopez's work. Can't wait until 11/21! Reply to this
9/30/2008 8:15 PMAndrew D Gadtke wrote:
Mr. Lopez, Unfortunately I have not yet read your book, but I'm planning on getting a copy tomorrow. I just saw the trailer for the movie, and I'm so excited that I will read the book before going to see the film. Much like your musician friend, I too was once a gifted student--not in music but in science. I developed paranoid schizophrenia while a student at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). I have been through hell and back with this illness, and now I'm entering remission (or recovery, if you can use that word for an incurable disease). I have published a book about the inner experience of mental illness, both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, and I would like to get a copy in your hands. You can check out my website, www.regularanddecaf.com for info on the book, or please email me and let me know if I can mail you a copy. I do believe it would help you better understand what your friend is experiencing. I want to thank you again for all the work you are doing; you don't realize how much this helps both the mentally ill and the homeless. Thanks again. Regards, Andrew D. Gadtke Reply to this
12/22/2008 11:43 AM
Lynne Johnstone wrote:
With regard to your story of Kerry Himmil and her daughter, Destiny, is there a place where I could send a cash donation? If so, please give payee and mailing address. Thanks Reply to this
In regards to your question, there is a place you can send donations to help Kerry & Destiny.
Here is the info, as quoted from my recent article in the LA Times:
"On Sunday, I answered reader requests by telling them they could send checks to the Himmels in my care at The Times. Since then, I've come up with a better plan.
Paul Freese of Public Counsel has agreed to meet with the Himmels, and, if they're willing, to offer legal advice on housing and benefits. And he also referred me to Imagine LA, a nonprofit that describes itself as being "dedicated to making Los Angeles a city where no child sleeps on the street."
Jill Bauman, executive director of Imagine LA, has agreed to manage a fund for the Himmels. "Imagine LA's goal," she said, "is to quickly move homeless families into permanent housing and provide the structure to nurture, train and mentor them to create habits that will help them sustain their independence and even thrive."
I'll pass on to Imagine LA any checks that have already been sent to me directly. In the meantime, donations can be made online at www.imaginela.org or mailed to:
Imagine LA -- the Himmel Family
6300 Wilshire Blvd.
Suite 980
Los Angeles, CA 90048"
The quote above is from Steve Lopez's LA Times article on Dec. 23, 2008, which you could view in full at the link below.
2/3/2009 6:26 PM
Kati wrote:
I finished reading The Soloist about a week ago, and not only does my heart go out to Mr. Ayers, but I was touched by your willingness to help him. I look forward to the movie. Robert Downey Jr. and Jamie Fox are amazing men and they will do the story justice. Reply to this
2/26/2009 9:14 PM
Freddy Ripoli wrote:
Steve Me and my wife loved the book. I was blow away with how much you invested your personnel time with a homeless person. It is truely inspirational to see the compassion that you invested with Mr. Ayers even though you had no idea of what return you would gain. I do enjoy reading your books and proud to say were from the same hometown. Freddy Ripoli Pittsburg, Ca. Reply to this
4/23/2009 11:47 AM
Montara wrote:
As a social worker, I am excited that this movie may touch millions of others about the plight of the homeless, each one who have a gift worth discovering. Thank you for your column, book and for this film. Reply to this
5/1/2009 7:47 PM
Holly Thatcher wrote:
My husband and I just got back from the movie. We absolutely loved it. I'm now looking forward to reading your book as well. Thank you for sharing this amazing story with the world. Reply to this
5/2/2009 11:56 AM
Marsha White wrote:
Saw the film yesterday and really loved it. Appreciated the screenplay after having read the book. Loved how the music seemed a "character" in the film. So beautiful and sustaining. The film gives a powerful voice to 90,000 of our citizens who deserve to be seen and heard and represented and cared about who often are not. Thank you! Reply to this
8/1/2009 5:37 AMSami wrote:
I am a resident doctor in psychiatry from Iraq and I have just seen the film (we don't have copyrights in Iraq so the film now is copied in DVDs and sold). I like how you dealed with the concept of schizophrenia and how persons with schizophrenia would be affected by highly expressed emotions. This film is up to the point. Thank you from Baghdad, Iraq. Reply to this
8/18/2009 10:42 PMJames Cook wrote:
Dear Mr. Lopez, I just watched "The Soloist" for the first time. Now I want to read the book! The angle you have created towards the homeless community (one of understanding and humility towards people who are just like us) is not only refreshing, but effective. That is why I knew you had to hear about a project my friend recently did. I live in a suburb of Portland, Oregon called Happy Valley. In Happy Valley there is a valley (alert the media) and of course a hill, of which I live in. This a fairly nice area, with middle to high class houses. But if I were to walk down a steep street I would hit 82nd Avenue, where the situation is radically different. Like Skid Row (although our homeless situation is not like the one in L.A.) it is only a short trip from rich homes to communities of homeless men and women. In my high school you are required to complete a senior project, which must relate to your future as well as help the community. A friend of mine, Willy Dolan, decided to raise money for homeless ministry he volunteers at called "The Father's Heart". This street ministry is located on a different Portland street called 82nd Drive. It is also low budget and home to many homeless people. His goal is to raise $10,000 for the ministry. For the first stage of this project Willy chose to do a very courageous thing, he lived homeless for a week. Starting on August 3rd and ending on August 9th, Willy set out on 82nd Dr. to live like the many people on that street, and with them. He accepted only what The Father's Heart would give any person that asks for a box of supplies, and film crews were watching him 24/7. The street ministry donated a large van for the hidden film crews, which consisted of Willy's friends, and whoever else would help. This project influenced Willy as well as his volunteers, and even our families. While on "Willy watch" (as we called it) I met some amazing homeless people, some grateful of Willy's effort, some not. Your story of Mr. Ayers reminds me so much of this project, because it is about connecting with homeless people as real people, and helping them one by one. You can see more info about this project on www.Willydolan.com, and we will be releasing a short documentary about the project in the next couple weeks. I hope to hear from you soon. James Cook Reply to this
In 2005, while hanging around Pershing Square in downtown Los Angeles, L.A. Times columnist Steve Lopez (Robert Downey Jr.) finds himself drawn to a homeless man in whimsical dress, expertly playing a violin with only two strings beneath the statue of Ludwig von Beethoven.
In theory, anyway. Keep in mind that Joe Wright's ("Atonement") adaptation of Lopez's book, "The Soloist," does contain the lethal warning, Based On A True Story.
Still, the test of a narrative film's quality is in how it handles its material, not how closely it skews to history. These aren't documentaries after all. The lure of "The Soloist" is obvious, the story of a troubled prodigy--Nathaniel Ayers (Jamie Foxx)--brought low by mental illness, and the struggle to return to normalcy. As long as the director keeps things from getting too trite in the irresistible urge to make reality better (and isn't that what movies really are?) these sorts of things can work very well. And Wright is a very good director.
Being a columnist, Lopez's initial instinct after meeting Ayers is naturally to use him as the subject of a story. He's not an artist the way Ayers is, he's a professional who treats everything, even his own grizzly bicycle accident, as grist for the mill. He doesn't interact with other human beings, he just reports on them. In its way, "The Soloist" is more about Lopez than it is anyone else, mainly because it's told entirely from his point of view barring a few flashbacks.
It's actually that point of view that makes "The Soloist" work, as it avoids a lot of the easy angst of Ayers' youthful breakdown in favor of Lopez's realizations about the world he lives in. He works hard to get Ayers off the street and into a local homeless shelter (a struggle made all the more difficult by Ayers' schizophrenic paranoia), and can't help but get involved with the people that live and work there.
Downey Jr. and Foxx are both very good in roles that could easily be very bad, or at least very easy. Foxx's Ayers speaks in a rapid fire, stream of consciousness fashion that could be used as a source of bad humor or easy pathos, but instead remains earnest and believable. Downey Jr. has the less showy, but equally to screw up, role of the disillusioned reporter, lost in his own messy world as he tries to cope with the everyday problems of life like divorce and raccoons destroying his lawn. He could have gone into auto-pilot mode of self-deprecation and charm, but he doesn't, not much anyway.
The plot itself is about normal for this sort of thing – there's only a handful of different stories Hollywood is willing to spend money on, because they know they work (or will at least be popular). But somehow Wright makes it all work, even if it does skirt the edge of triteness. In less sure hands, elements like a brief musical interlude done all in syncopated flashes of color, trying to communicate what experiencing music is like for Ayers could be unbelievably overdone. Reply to this
8/23/2009 9:04 PM
Cyndi wrote:
Dear Mr. Lopez, I just watched the movie "soloist" and cannot wait to read the book. I am also very interested in reading more of your writings. I was very touched and inspired on the kindness and friendship you shared with Mr. Ayers. We can use more people like you in this world. Thank you so much for sharing this amazing story and God Bless you. Reply to this
This movie looks amazing. My whole family cannot wait to see it, and I am definitely promoting it to all of my friends. My favorite actor of all time has the starring role, and I have been truly inspired Mr. Lopez's work. Can't wait until 11/21!
Reply to this
Mr. Lopez,
Unfortunately I have not yet read your book, but I'm planning on getting a copy tomorrow. I just saw the trailer for the movie, and I'm so excited that I will read the book before going to see the film.
Much like your musician friend, I too was once a gifted student--not in music but in science. I developed paranoid schizophrenia while a student at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). I have been through hell and back with this illness, and now I'm entering remission (or recovery, if you can use that word for an incurable disease).
I have published a book about the inner experience of mental illness, both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, and I would like to get a copy in your hands. You can check out my website, www.regularanddecaf.com for info on the book, or please email me and let me know if I can mail you a copy. I do believe it would help you better understand what your friend is experiencing.
I want to thank you again for all the work you are doing; you don't realize how much this helps both the mentally ill and the homeless.
Thanks again.
Regards,
Andrew D. Gadtke
Reply to this
An amazing movie with two greatest actors, Robert Downey Jr. and Jamie Foxx.
Visit us at www.myspace.com/thesoloistmovie
Reply to this
With regard to your story of Kerry Himmil and her daughter, Destiny, is there a place where I could send a cash
donation? If so, please give payee and
mailing address. Thanks
Reply to this
Paul Freese of Public Counsel has agreed to meet with the Himmels, and, if they're willing, to offer legal advice on housing and benefits. And he also referred me to Imagine LA, a nonprofit that describes itself as being "dedicated to making Los Angeles a city where no child sleeps on the street."
Imagine LA -- the Himmel Family
6300 Wilshire Blvd.
Suite 980
Los Angeles, CA 90048"
Reply to this
I finished reading The Soloist about a week ago, and not only does my heart go out to Mr. Ayers, but I was touched by your willingness to help him. I look forward to the movie. Robert Downey Jr. and Jamie Fox are amazing men and they will do the story justice.
Reply to this
Steve
Me and my wife loved the book. I was blow away with how much you invested your personnel time with a homeless person. It is truely inspirational to see the compassion that you invested with Mr. Ayers even though you had no idea of what return you would gain.
I do enjoy reading your books and proud to say were from the same hometown.
Freddy Ripoli
Pittsburg, Ca.
Reply to this
As a social worker, I am excited that this movie may touch millions of others about the plight of the homeless, each one who have a gift worth discovering. Thank you for your column, book and for this film.
Reply to this
My husband and I just got back from the movie. We absolutely loved it. I'm now looking forward to reading your book as well. Thank you for sharing this amazing story with the world.
Reply to this
Saw the film yesterday and really loved it. Appreciated the screenplay after having read the book. Loved how the music seemed a "character" in the film. So beautiful and sustaining. The film gives a powerful voice to 90,000 of our citizens who deserve to be seen and heard and represented and cared about who often are not. Thank you!
Reply to this
I am a resident doctor in psychiatry from Iraq and I have just seen the film (we don't have copyrights in Iraq so the film now is copied in DVDs and sold). I like how you dealed with the concept of schizophrenia and how persons with schizophrenia would be affected by highly expressed emotions. This film is up to the point. Thank you from Baghdad, Iraq.
Reply to this
Dear Mr. Lopez, I just watched "The Soloist" for the first time. Now I want to read the book! The angle you have created towards the homeless community (one of understanding and humility towards people who are just like us) is not only refreshing, but effective. That is why I knew you had to hear about a project my friend recently did. I live in a suburb of Portland, Oregon called Happy Valley. In Happy Valley there is a valley (alert the media) and of course a hill, of which I live in. This a fairly nice area, with middle to high class houses. But if I were to walk down a steep street I would hit 82nd Avenue, where the situation is radically different. Like Skid Row (although our homeless situation is not like the one in L.A.) it is only a short trip from rich homes to communities of homeless men and women. In my high school you are required to complete a senior project, which must relate to your future as well as help the community. A friend of mine, Willy Dolan, decided to raise money for homeless ministry he volunteers at called "The Father's Heart". This street ministry is located on a different Portland street called 82nd Drive. It is also low budget and home to many homeless people. His goal is to raise $10,000 for the ministry. For the first stage of this project Willy chose to do a very courageous thing, he lived homeless for a week. Starting on August 3rd and ending on August 9th, Willy set out on 82nd Dr. to live like the many people on that street, and with them. He accepted only what The Father's Heart would give any person that asks for a box of supplies, and film crews were watching him 24/7. The street ministry donated a large van for the hidden film crews, which consisted of Willy's friends, and whoever else would help. This project influenced Willy as well as his volunteers, and even our families. While on "Willy watch" (as we called it) I met some amazing homeless people, some grateful of Willy's effort, some not. Your story of Mr. Ayers reminds me so much of this project, because it is about connecting with homeless people as real people, and helping them one by one. You can see more info about this project on www.Willydolan.com, and we will be releasing a short documentary about the project in the next couple weeks. I hope to hear from you soon.
James Cook
Reply to this
Review
In 2005, while hanging around Pershing Square in downtown Los Angeles, L.A. Times columnist Steve Lopez (Robert Downey Jr.) finds himself drawn to a homeless man in whimsical dress, expertly playing a violin with only two strings beneath the statue of Ludwig von Beethoven.
In theory, anyway. Keep in mind that Joe Wright's ("Atonement") adaptation of Lopez's book, "The Soloist," does contain the lethal warning, Based On A True Story.
Still, the test of a narrative film's quality is in how it handles its material, not how closely it skews to history. These aren't documentaries after all. The lure of "The Soloist" is obvious, the story of a troubled prodigy--Nathaniel Ayers (Jamie Foxx)--brought low by mental illness, and the struggle to return to normalcy. As long as the director keeps things from getting too trite in the irresistible urge to make reality better (and isn't that what movies really are?) these sorts of things can work very well. And Wright is a very good director.
Being a columnist, Lopez's initial instinct after meeting Ayers is naturally to use him as the subject of a story. He's not an artist the way Ayers is, he's a professional who treats everything, even his own grizzly bicycle accident, as grist for the mill. He doesn't interact with other human beings, he just reports on them. In its way, "The Soloist" is more about Lopez than it is anyone else, mainly because it's told entirely from his point of view barring a few flashbacks.
It's actually that point of view that makes "The Soloist" work, as it avoids a lot of the easy angst of Ayers' youthful breakdown in favor of Lopez's realizations about the world he lives in. He works hard to get Ayers off the street and into a local homeless shelter (a struggle made all the more difficult by Ayers' schizophrenic paranoia), and can't help but get involved with the people that live and work there.
Downey Jr. and Foxx are both very good in roles that could easily be very bad, or at least very easy. Foxx's Ayers speaks in a rapid fire, stream of consciousness fashion that could be used as a source of bad humor or easy pathos, but instead remains earnest and believable. Downey Jr. has the less showy, but equally to screw up, role of the disillusioned reporter, lost in his own messy world as he tries to cope with the everyday problems of life like divorce and raccoons destroying his lawn. He could have gone into auto-pilot mode of self-deprecation and charm, but he doesn't, not much anyway.
The plot itself is about normal for this sort of thing – there's only a handful of different stories Hollywood is willing to spend money on, because they know they work (or will at least be popular). But somehow Wright makes it all work, even if it does skirt the edge of triteness. In less sure hands, elements like a brief musical interlude done all in syncopated flashes of color, trying to communicate what experiencing music is like for Ayers could be unbelievably overdone.
Reply to this
Dear Mr. Lopez, I just watched the movie "soloist" and cannot wait to read the book. I am also very interested in reading more of your writings. I was very touched and inspired on the kindness and friendship you shared with Mr. Ayers. We can use more people like you in this world. Thank you so much for sharing this amazing story and God Bless you.
Reply to this