HOLLYWOOD, Calif. – “Robert Downey Jr. and Jamie Foxx raise the bar with two of the year’s best performances” (Peter Travers, Rolling Stone) in the inspirational true story THE SOLOIST debuting August 4, 2009 on DVD and Blu-ray from Paramount Home Entertainment. Based on the best-selling book by Los Angeles Times journalist Steve Lopez, THE SOLOIST is a moving and emotional story of the transformative power of friendship. When Lopez (Oscar® nominee Robert Downey Jr.) discovers former classical music prodigy Nathaniel Anthony Ayers (Oscar winner Jamie Foxx) playing his violin on the streets of L.A., he endeavors to help the troubled genius find his way back. The unique bond that forms between them makes for a poignant and soaring tale that is “powerful and inspiring” (Shawn Edwards, Fox Television).
THE SOLOIST DVD and Blu-ray presentations include commentary by director Joe Wright (Atonement, Pride & Prejudice), “An Unlikely Friendship: Making The Soloist”, “Kindness, Courtesy and Respect: Mr. Ayers + Mr. Lopez”, “One Size Does Not Fit All: Addressing Homelessness in Los Angeles” and deleted scenes. The Blu-ray also includes a piece titled “Juilliard: The Education of Nathaniel Ayers”.
THE SOLOIST DVD & Blu-ray
THE SOLOIST DVD is presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 TVs with Dolby Digital English 5.1 Surround, French 5.1 Surround and Spanish 5.1 Surround and English, French and Spanish subtitles. The Blu-ray disc is presented in 1080p high definition with English 5.1 TrueHD, French 5.1 Dolby Digital and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital and English, English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles. The discs include the following special features in high definition on the Blu-ray as noted:
• An Unlikely Friendship: Making The Soloist (HD)
• Deleted Scenes
• Kindness, Courtesy and Respect: Mr. Ayers + Mr. Lopez (HD)
• One Size Does Not Fit All: Addressing Homelessness in Los Angeles (HD)
• Beth’s Story
• Commentary by director Joe Wright
• Theatrical Trailer (HD)—Blu-ray only
• Juilliard: The Education of Nathaniel Ayers (HD)—Blu-ray only
About Paramount Home Entertainment
Paramount Home Entertainment (PHE) is part of Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment. PPC is a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. PHE is responsible for the sales, marketing and distribution of home entertainment products on behalf of various parties including: Paramount Pictures, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Paramount Famous Productions, Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central, CBS and PBS and for providing home entertainment fulfillment services for DreamWorks Animation Home Entertainment.
