I am a loyal National Public Radio listener, and I also take the time to read an article or two in current national publications that don’t feature feuding celebrity spouses or alien abduction. Because of this scant exposure, I have been aware, for some time, of the Steve Lopez series in the Los Angeles Times focused on the cello-playing homeless man Nathaniel Ayers. When I caught wind that The Soloist, a movie based on this story, was soon to be released, I couldn’t wait for the preview!

There is, however, a phenomenon that drives me crazy when it comes to the movies. It is the one in which a book is adapted to a film, and the subject matter invariably suffers in the translation. Stephen King’s novels are famous for this type of “dice & slice” treatment. Even The Da Vinci Code fell victim to the curse. So why in the world would a newspaper column have the same problem?

If you haven’t heard of Mr. Ayers and Mr. Lopez, please allow me to illuminate. Steve Lopez was and is a columnist for the LA Times. As with any writer, he is always in search of his next intriguing story, so when he practically tripped over a homeless, schizophrenic musical virtuoso in a park in L.A., he must have thought him heaven-sent! The man of whom I speak is Nathaniel Anthony Ayers (he will spell it for you ... repeatedly), and the story of these two men’s relationship is amazing.

Upon writing the first column about this incredibly talented yet brutally tormented soul, Lopez found himself inundated with responses from a readership that had been profoundly moved by the touching nature of Ayers’ circumstances. Having grown up on the mean streets, Ayers sought comfort and escape by playing the cello. A natural talent reinforced by a tenacious work ethic won him a place at Juilliard in New York. He was in fact a classmate of Yo-Yo Ma. Unfortunately his psyche was not up to the challenge, and he soon lost his place (and his way) due to schizophrenia.

Now, in L.A., he and Steve Lopez would form a relationship that would transform both men and a city where angels still tread. This is the story I went to see in the theater. Unfortunately I got a version of it instead.

Let me just take a moment to applaud Jamie Foxx in the title role of The Soloist. He continues to be this decade’s most talented actor by far. As Nathaniel Anthony Ayers ... N A T H A N I E L A N T H O N Y A Y E R S ... he completely inhabits this character’s persona. And not just in the delivery or cadence of the dialogue. His costuming, body language, posture, tics and facial expressions all leave us feeling as if we have been blessed with the presence and essence of the man this story is based on.

Plus! Jamie the musician is authentic in the finest detail. As he pulls the rosined bow across frayed strings, we are moved to our marrow. His performance is heartfelt, genuine and deserving of yet another Oscar nod!

Unfortunately this is where the good news ends. With Joe Wright in the director’s chair, we have an incredible case of mis-assignment. Having sprung from the gates with Pride & Prejudice in 2005 and then followed up with the much-acclaimed Atonement in 2007, Mr. Wright could not have been more wrong for this job. The story is oversentimentalized, which is saying something when the subject itself is so wrenching, and the story line is little more than a series of incidents strung together by a common cast.

On top of this monumental shortcoming is the problem with Robert Downey Jr. Before I continue, let me say that I am a big fan. I loved him before Chaplin, and, since then, his sardonic, pithy slant on some offbeat and interesting roles has been a constant joy to me. Unfortunately this stock skill set does not apply to Steve Lopez. In The Soloist, Downey seems to be playing a caricature of himself rather than the character. Unfortunate and distracting.

This being said, there is still quite a bit about The Soloist that should not be overlooked. The story of these two remarkable men and the heart-rending paths they tread through places like Skid Row should be a wake-up call for all regarding those among us suffering acute psychosis!

It’s true that the story has lost something in the translation, but it’s still a heck of a story. Don’t make the same mistake I did. Go in knowing there is a flawed director and an underperforming supporting cast, but by all means ... go see this movie!

— In addition to being a great movie reviewer, Michael O’Brien Sr. owns and operates a DeLand-based catering service, Michael’s Gourmet to Go. E-mail him at movieman@beacononlinenews.com.