Ray (2004) Movie Information:

Ray (2004) Directed by: Taylor Hackford Ray (2004) Written by: James L. White Ray (2004) Cast: Jamie Foxx, Kerry Washington, Clifton Powell, Harry Lennix, Terrence Dashon Howard, Larenz Tate, Richard Schiff, Aunjanue Ellis, Sharon Warren, Regina King

Ray (2004) U.S. Distributor: Universal Pictures Ray (2004) U.K. Distributor: UIP

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Ray (2004) Synopsis:

"Ray" is the never-before-told, musical biographical drama of American legend Ray Charles. Born in a poor town in Georgia, Ray Charles went blind at the age of seven shortly after witnessing his younger brother's accidental death. Inspired by a fiercely independent mother who insisted he make his own in the world, Charles found his calling and his gift behind a piano keyboard. Touring across the Southern musical circuit, the soulful singer gained a reputation and then exploded with worldwide fame when he pioneered incorporating gospel, country, jazz and orchestral influences into his inimitable style. As he revolutionized the way people appreciated music, he simultaneously fought segregation in the very clubs that launched him and championed artists rights within the corporate music business. "Ray" provides an unflinching portrait of Charles' musical genius as he overcomes drug addiction while transforming into one of this country's most-beloved performers.

Ray (2004) Movie Review:

Taylor Hackford’s Ray is a firm biopic of the late music legend Ray Charles. Though hampered with repetition, minor flaws, and a goofy ending, the film rides on the shoulders of Jamie Foxx, who delivers a knockout performance, as well as the actuality that Charles himself was a “genius,” but not a saint.

The film moves back and forth through flashbacks of Charles’ (Foxx) rise to music stardom in the late 1960’s to his childhood life in a sharecropping society. The flashbacks work for the most part developing the relationship with between Charles and his mother (Sharon Warren). Also critical to the film from Charles’ childhood are haunting visions of his younger brother drowning and battling the world after losing his sight.

Charles’ life as a musician is progressed through his first meeting with a young Quincy Jones (Larenz Tate) in Seattle all the way to his revolution of the music industry by making his own sound with a mix of blues, country, gospel, and jazz. Early in his career Charles marries a sweet preacher’s daughter named Della Bea (Kerry Washington) and begins his own family. The film, however, does not shy away from showing Charles’ life on the road, which includes relationships with many other women, most notably back up singer Margie Hendricks (Regina King). Charles’ struggle with heroin addiction is also potently captured throughout this film. Most of Charles’ news breaking decisions are also unveiled in the film, such as his refusal to play to a Jim Crow segregated audience in Georgia. Charles was then banned from the state, but the state’s song to this day is Charles’ hit “Georgia on My Mind.”

As with any biopic, the relationships between Charles and all of the supporting characters dissolve. However, director Taylor Hackford and screenwriter James White do not sugar coat their look into the life of this music legend. As with the majority of biopics, such as the The Hurricane, the facts are skewed to give more praise to the focused individual. Hackford shows Charles’ inner demons and lows as a person, even when he is one of the most beloved musicians in the world. This film could have easily just focused in on Charles’ struggle with his handicap and race in the world, but there is so much more that he went through. This is mostly why the film is a draining two and half hours long, even though some of it is redundant. There are alterations of course, such as the revealing factor that Charles has one illegitimate child, when he in fact had over ten. Hackford does an applicable job of handling this huge story, in which he has an eye for biopics, he previously directed the worthy Richie Valens biopic LaBamba.

White’s structure with the script of jumping and flashing back all over the place works for the most part, even though it is choppy. The flashbacks with Charles as a youngster and his mother convey some powerful moments, but when the climatic ending of the film takes place in a flashback it is just sort of a dunce cop-out. Ray Charles was a fascinating man and artist, and this film pays a respectable tribute. Charles was an advisor on the film and did approve it before his death last summer due to liver failure.

Outside of the tribute factors and the stellar music (in which all original recordings are by Charles), the real reason to see this film is for the brilliant performance by Jamie Foxx. The rising actor gets everything right, the smile, the posture, the walk, the voice, and the energy as the legendary Ray Charles. Throughout the film, it is as if you are watching Ray Charles himself, due to Foxx’s dead-on depiction. There are not many times when one can say this, but Foxx is perfect and should be a hot contender for an Oscar this year.

The supporting cast of the film are also excellent, but are light years behind Foxx. Regina King plays one of his mistresses, and the two share one of the film’s best scenes together with the creation of “Hit the Road Jack.” Clifton Powell is effective as Charles’ manager as is Kerry Washington as his supporting wife. In the flashbacks, Sharon Warren brings the film an emotional lift as Charles’s mother and child actor C.J. Sanders is convincing as the young Ray Charles.

Audiences may be turned off by this film’s longevity and repetitive nature. However, this is one of the better biopics to come out recently and the atmosphere that Hackford captures around Foxx’s great performance is full of vigor. If you are a music fan, you will appreciate Ray.

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Ray (2004) review written by: Bailey Henderson