In association with

Ray [2004]
from Uca
starring Jamie Foxx, Regina King, Kerry Washington, Michael Arata, Curtis Armstrong
directed by Taylor Hackford

Features:

• Anamorphic
• PAL

Editorial Review:

Jamie Foxx's uncannily accurate performance isn't the only good thing about Ray. Riding high on a wave of Oscar buzz, Foxx proved himself worthy of all the hype by portraying blind R&B legend Ray Charles in a warts-and-all performance that Charles approved shortly before his death in June 2004. Despite a few dramatic embellishments of actual incidents (such as the suggestion that the accidental drowning of Charles's younger brother caused all the inner demons that Charles would battle into adulthood), the film does a remarkable job of summarising Charles's strengths as a musical innovator and his weaknesses as a philandering heroin addict who recorded some of his best songs while flying high as a kite. Foxx seems to be channeling Charles himself, and as he did with the life of Ritchie Valens in La Bamba, director Taylor Hackford gets most of the period details absolutely right as he chronicles Ray's rise from "chitlin circuit" performer in the early '50s to his much-deserved elevation to legendary status as one of the all-time great musicians. Foxx expertly lip-syncs to Ray Charles' classic recordings, but you could swear he's the real deal in a film that honors Ray Charles without sanitising his once-messy life. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

• Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0

• Moving and thought provoking
  Ray is outstandingly performed by Foxx, who commands attention and plays to role superbly throughout. The directors have done a superb job on this film by grimly portraying Charles' administrative ruthlessness, his selfishness and his egotism. These are shown to be as important in the course of his life as his music.
  This film could easily have been a sugary eulogy to a blind black man who triumphed against all odds. What we get instead is realism, human triumph and disaster and genuine highs and... more info

• Ray
  Ray is a brilliant film looking at the life of Ray Charles. Jamie Foxx does an excellent job of portraying the man and you get a real feeling for the times he performed in and what shaped his music. You get to see what motivated Ray Charles and most aspects of his character, both good and bad. Of course the soundtrack is amazing. I found myself completely engrossed throughout and the direction style reminded me of Ali in places, which is no bad thing as that film is superb also! Overall a great film, which... more info

• Foxx's deserved Oscar
  This proved far better than expected, despite being weighed down with the lumbering genre of biopic. The heavily downmarked price suggests it isn't selling, but you would do far better to invest your money in a copy of Ray than a thousand action flicks.
  The film revolves around Jamie Foxx's remarkable portrayal of Ray Charles Robinson, though there is also a fine ensemble cast to support him. Foxx is perhaps somewhat over-endowed with muscle for the musician, but certainly deserved his best actor... more info

• What can I say?
  It is difficult to fault this movie. The acting is good. The music (at least to us - not Ray Charles fans) - seems good. The photography is good. There is a good story line.
  But ...
  For some reason the film did not have that extra edge that warrants a 5 star rating.
  If pressed to say why, there is no specific reason - so probably this is subjective.
  Therefore don't be put off by this review - watch the movie and come to your own conclusion.
  This is based on watching the... more info

Similar Products:

More from Amazon