"The Soloist" ** (out of four): Robert Downey, Jr. and Jamie Foxx chew the scenery, but it's doubtful anyone else will be nibbling at this Oscar bait.

Wait, is it Oscar season already? Hollywood usually waits until Fall to trot out its "message" pictures, particularly those that feature a main character with a mental or physical infirmity. Add a "based on a true story" tag and some acting heavyweights and you've got a project primed for Oscar night. Such is the case with "The Soloist", a film that looks, sounds and feels as though it were designed especially to win awards. Despite its formula for success, it's doubtful that anyone will be nibbling at this Oscar bait.

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