“The Soloist” is one of Hollywood’s latest productions, directed by Joe Wright and written by Susannah Grant. The movie is based on a true story, that of Nathaniel Ayers – a musician who develops schizophrenia and consequently becomes homeless. Ayers is played by Jamie Foxx, and his co-star is Robert Downey Jr.

The latter plays a journalist, Steve Lopez, who writes a column for the Los Angeles Times. The columnist discovers Ayers and is fascinated by him, prompting him to start writing about the tragic musician in the paper’s column. Despite the talented musician becoming schizophrenic early in his life – during his second year at celebrated conservatory and performance arts school Julliard, he is not hindered from playing the violin and the cello on the streets of Los Angeles. The movie follows the strange relationship between the columnist and the schizophrenic, homeless musician.

Given the touching plot, the true story behind the movie and the great cast, the movie’s makers had the Oscar in their back pocket. However, Paramount took a spur-of-the-moment decision to post-pone the movie’s release. Originally planned for November 21st, it now seems that paramount officials have delayed the release until March 2009. The move was uninspired to say the least, as the trailer was already played in theatres, also announcing the initial release date.

Could this change have been prompted by lack of confidence in the movie’s success and artistic value? Considering the already formed anticipation around the movie and its release, such a delay can ruin both the chances for winning an award (especially if it’s launched after December 3rd) and for being a box office hit.