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The Soloist
Remember Steven Spielberg’s silver-screen rendition of “The Color Purple”? What flabbergasted and disappointed me after reading and loving the book was how he portrayed the cabin and setting in general like something from a Ralph Lauren ad. Typical sugarcoating, Hollywood style. Refreshingly, Joe “Atonement” Wright presents a much richer and raw rendition of a not-so-pretty reality in “The Soloist”. Using actual patients rather than Hollywood extras and a set devoid of glamour, he paints an authentic picture of life in poverty. Robert Downey Jr. delivers an Oscar worthy performance as Steve Lopez, real-life L.A. Times journalist who befriends and writes about the brilliant but mentally disturbed cellist, Nathaniel Ayers, convincingly portrayed by Jaimie Foxx. Wright also introduces some of the complexities posed by the mentally unstable homeless: Why do some homeless actually choose/prefer to live on the streets even when a safer alternative (i.e. an apartment) is available? Should we as a society employ manipulative tactics to ensure that they are medicated? These are a few of the implied questions with no pat right or wrong answers. If you want to see a simplistic, feel-good movie, don’t go to see “The Soloist”; it just might leave you feeling a bit unsettled. But if you want to see a thought-provoking, realistic portrayal of life on the streets, and the complexities of a misunderstood prodigy, “The Soloist” is a must-see movie.— May 25, 2009 8:16 a.m.
Caffe Forte
Head to Caffe Forte in the morning if you're craving a house baked triple berry scone or a perfect three-egg omelette any style served with fresh seasonal fruit and toasted ciabatta or any of 6 other breads. Wash it down with coffee brewed from beans roasted on the premises. Head to Caffe Forte in the afternoon if it's a yummy soup and sandwich you're hungering for. The vegetable soup is the most scrumptious this vegetarian has ever tasted. Linda, the vivacious chef, includes about 18 different veggies and although the spices vary so that it's never exactly the same, it always exceeds expectations. The breakfast and lunch menu offer plenty of choices for meat eaters as well, such as Classic Reuben and Swiss, University Club and more. The comfy, eclectic furnishings create an inviting ambience. You can listen to old vinyl L.P.'s and work on your laptop or leisurely read, as do many of the regulars here. A free-for-customers adjacent lot makes parking in this No Park establishment a piece of cake. You can also take advantage of evening live music and theatrical readings of local, prize-winning fiction. (Ask for a schedule.) Art exhibits change once or twice a month and encompass a broad range of talent. Caffe Forte is definitely worth checking out and can quite easily become an affordable, enjoyable habit.— April 17, 2009 10:22 p.m.