Dec 01, 2006 07:22 PM
1537 Views
(Updated Feb 09, 2007 08:52 PM)
The extraordinary life story of Ray Charles. A man who fought harder and went farther than anyone thought possible.
Movie Ray
The Plot (screenit.com)
It's 1948, and Ray Charles (JAMIE FOXX) is a young, black and blind man headed from Florida to Seattle where he hopes to make a splash in the music business. After briefly meeting Quincy Jones (LARENZ TATE), he gets a gig playing piano with Gossie McKee (TERRENCE DASHON HOWARD) for Marlene (DENISE DOWSE), a club manager who enjoys his many talents both on and off stage where he's also introduced to drugs for the first time with club announcer Oberon (WARWICK DAVIS).
Ray's soon a hit and after tiring of Marlene and Gossie ripping him off, he signs with Jack Lauderdale (ROBERT WISDOM) of Swing Time records. Despite his success, he's still haunted by tragedies from when he was just a boy (C.J. SANDERS). Yet, he remembers the firm encouragement from his illiterate mother, Aretha (SHARON WARREN), about never allowing any setback in his life to cripple him.
While traveling and performing with another band, Ray is introduced to heroin, an addiction that eventually becomes quite prevalent in his life. Yet, at the same time, and with the help of former band-mate and manager Jeff Brown (CLIFTON POWELL), his success continues, especially when Atlantic Records executives Ahmet Ertegun (CURTIS ARMSTRONG) and Jerry Wexler (RICHARD SCHIFF) assume his contract and nurture his talent.
It's then that he meets Della Bea (KERRY WASHINGTON) and the two quickly hit it off and are soon married. His growing addiction, the demands of the business and traveling on the road, however, put a strain on their relationship, particularly when he has affairs with his back-up singers, first Mary Ann Fisher (AUNJANUE ELLIS) and then Margie Hendricks (REGINA KING). With the years passing and his success growing, Ray keeps churning out the hits, all while bringing on a new manager, Joe Adams (HARRY LENNIX), and dealing with the various personal and professional demons of his life
My Review
I think this must have been the biggest compliment actor Jamie Foxxreceived from everybody on this movie - for a moment, we forgot you were Jamie Foxx and saw Ray....
I think I didn't see Ray for a moment...I felt I was watching Ray himself the entire movie. And there are enough admirers out there who share the same view.
Brilliant songs...to be frank, I never knew who Ray Charles was till this movie released in 2004. And thanks to the movie, I find the man simply marvellous. Everybody knew he had awesome talent but the even greater fact of the man is his fighting spirit. On how he bravely fought his personal demons of tragic death in the family, drugs and extramarital affairs.
And need I say again that Jamie Foxx gave a fantastic performance. Must be the best in career. Can he outdo this?
Kerry Washington(Fantastic Four, Mr & Mrs Smith) as Ray's wife and Sharon Warren as Ray's mother are the other actors who have supported Jamie with their wonderful acting.
Indeed, everybody in the cast was so true to life in their performance.
And I have to come back to the songs.....so many of them are beyond words but the popular one could be Georgia On My Mind and also a song like Hit the Road Jack which was inspired(according to the movie) from a personal fight he had with one of his lovers Margie Hendricks(beautifully essayed by actress Regina King).
Director Taylor Hackford does his best to balance the truth and make it quite interesting & entertaining to the viewers too.
Ofcourse, the filmaker did take liberties to make a more livelier cinematic story but frankly it was not very gripping. Unless you are a music lover or ardent fan of Ray Charles, I am not sure if you will sit completely through this movie because it does get dull at places.
The movie gets best as it nears the climax especially the courtroom scene involving Ray or the vision he has of his late mother and younger brother during his treatment at a rehabilitation clinic.
Kudos to Hollywood and in particular, Universal Studios, director Taylor Hackford & writer James White for making this movie possible so that many more people worldwide get to know and understand this music genius and more importantly, Ray Charles the wonderful human being.
Some trivia (imdb.com)
~ Jamie Foxx had to wear eye prosthetics that really did make him blind for up to 14 hours a day during shooting.
~ Jamie Foxx played the piano in all scenes himself.
~ No studio was interested in backing the film. The film was then shot independently and once it was completed, Universal stepped in to distribute it. Part of the reason Universal released it was because one of the executives of the studio used to hitchhike to Hollywood to watch Ray Charles concerts.
~ Director Taylor Hackford secured the rights to Ray Charles's life story in 1987 but couldn't find a studio to finance the film.
~ Jamie Foxx attended classes at the Braille Institute in order to help him play the role of Ray.
Director - Taylor Hackford
Year - 2004
Starring - Jamie Foxx, Kerry Washington, Regina King, Sharon Warren
Verdict ~ In the movie: Aretha Robinson to her young son Ray Charles - I love you baby...I'm so proud of you.
(over half a century later....)
From heaven: Ray Charles to the cast & crew of movie Ray - I love you...I'm so proud of you.
Amen.
