Flix book review
This film has something
for everyone and the per-
T S
BIANCA
formances by Jamie Foxx
he oloiST
(Nathaniel Anthony Ayers
Author E. Williams
Jr.) and Robert Downey
Jr. (Steve Lopez) couldn’t
have possibly been any
So okay…it’s a typ-
to expect. It’s not going better. Foxx was brilliant
ical Sunday morning
to leave you all warm and as the homeless musician and most God fear-
fuzzy at the end. It’s going and the growth Downey
ing folk are heading
to tug on your heartstrings portrayed immaculate.
to church including a
once innocent minded
Bianca. What makes
her so special from
the rest of her tight knit
congregation is she’s
suffered unthinkable
as well as unspeak-
able acts inside the walls of the sanctuary.
Detroit born and raised author E. Williams,
RoBERT DoWnEy, JR. and Jamie Foxx in The Soloist.
once a member of the nationally known Pentecos-
tal Church of God but now exiled writes the chilling
and give you such a broad I haven’t seen a film
range of emotion that it will that has elicited an emo-
sometimes disturbing tale through the eyes of the
take several moments af- tional response with such
troubled confused girl.
ter exiting the auditorium a broad range in myself in
Bianca was birthed into the legacy of a fam-
to really figure out how you longer than I can remem- ily belonging to the corrupt place of worship where
feel. ber. Not everything is what
several accusations of child molestation had gone
There were moments I it seems and some of the
unaddressed. Alienated from ‘outsiders’ and ‘non
was so far on the edge of harsh reality may slap you
my seat wanting to know in the face a bit, but this
believers’ the first, the last and the only word that
what could possibly hap- film truly portrays the world
mattered to the church members was that of their
pen next and moments I in its respective light, cruel all powerful Bishop who was also rumored to be
was muttering under my but occasionally a silver
Bianca’s abuser.
breath in anger and frustra- lining does make a star-
“She accepted her mind being manipulated and
tion, and finally, at the very tling appearance.
end, two tears escaped my Go see this film, it will
her body being violated. It was all she learned and
eyes due to simply being stay with you long after
unfortunately all she knew.” The author reveals.
touched. you leave the theatre.
Fast forward to adulthood, Bianca views herself
as ‘damaged goods’ allowing every man she comes
in contact with to treat her as just that. Yet, discov-
JAmiE Foxx in The Soloist
ering what she thinks is true love the tables turn;
between Ayers and Lopez
cold-hearted revenge takes over and vengeance is
Release Date:
is completely awkward.
put into play!
The most priceless line
24 April 2009 in the entire film comes
After all, how much humiliation can one person
from this encounter when
take and how much pain is too much? Does God
Running Time:
Ayers tells Lopez, “Don’t ever give you more than you can stand? In Bianca’s
be startled by my appear-
117 Minutes
eyes…hell yes! And she can’t stand any more! With
ance, I’ve had a few set-
an addiction to prescription pills that plateaus to self
backs.” That line made
Rated PG-13
mutilation, an out of control Bianca is soon charged
the movie for me, only mo-
for intense sequenc- ments into it. It couldn’t
and payback is definitely a bitch!
es of violence and
have been delivered any
Author E. Williams, torn between loyalty to his
more sincerely.
action.
once church family, who have threatened him on
The film progresses
several occasions since the book’s release, and a
as Lopez writes about the
story he felt had to be told, does an exceptional job
Review by Crystal Riehl homeless musician and
draws reader sympathy
shedding light on this controversial subject.
Steve Lopez is a col- and media attention alike.
Maintaining the novel as fictional although loose-
umnist for the Los Angeles This sounds like a feel-
ly inspired by a true story, the gripping accounts and
Times and he is waiting for good, unlikely friendship heart wrenching events the main character is forced
his next big story. story waiting to happen, but
to endure will leave the reader questioning who they
It is then that he meets this film is harsh. It isn’t all
can trust when it comes to their children.
Nathaniel Anthony Ayers friendship and bonding. It
Jr. and his entire life is shows the world as an ugly
If there is one book this year that will keep you on
transformed. place and how people turn
the edge of your seat wondering what really goes on
We meet Nathaniel their backs on each other
behind the closed doors of your church, it definitely
Anthony Ayers Jr. play- each and every day. has to be Bianca.
ing a violin with only two There is so much more
This novel is available at Hood Book Head-
strings. Despite this unfor- to the story but this truly
quarters located at 20900 Dequindre Rd. inside
tunate fact, the music com- is one of the movies that
ing from it is beautiful even you really should go into
of the County Line Trade Center. For more infor-
though the initial encounter not really knowing what
mation call 313-515-7961.
The Michigan FrontPage • May 29, 2009 27
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