Ray (Limited 2-Disc Special Edition) | Jamie Foxx, Kerry Washington

Ray (Limited 2-Disc Special Edition) | Jamie Foxx, Kerry Washington | first rate biopic - warts, genius, and all

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Ray (Limited 2-Dis...

	Ray (Limited 2-Disc Special Edition) Jamie Foxx, Kerry Washington Universal Studios, 2005 average customer review:based on 362 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

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 summarizing 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 sanitizing his once-messy life. --Jeff Shannon --This text refers to the Theatrical Release edition.

More on Ray Charles

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The Genius of Ray Charles (CD)

Ray Charles and Betty Carter--Dedicated to You (CD)

Genius & Soul--The 50th Anniversary Collection (CD)

Ray: A Tribute to the Movie, the Music, and the Man (book)

More Albums by Ray Charles

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A Legend

Bored, I pulled out this video to watch again. It was better than when I first saw it. I bought RAY when it first hit the video stores. What an outstanding movie about the life of the legendary Ray Charles! Jamie Fox pulled off an extraordinary Academy Award winning performance for his portrayal of the late Ray Charles. This excellent move spans Ray Charles life from the time he was a little boy growing up in Florida, through his rise to fame. The movie does not disappoint. The music is superb, and we get an opportunity to understand the challenges Ray Charles faced in his personal life, and as a musician and entertainer, who ultimately emerged as one of the most important figures in American music. A must have! If you've not yet seen RAY, don't wait. Buy this video.

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first rate biopic - warts, genius, and all

This is a wonderfully vital story of a man who made it to the top of his profession in a way that may be possible only in America: he was black from the Jim Crow South, blind, and poor, but he rose by talent and guile, with many injuries along the way. The portrait is completely believable and emotionally compelling, from his strong and wise mother to his devoted, yet long-suffering wife; both of them were essential to push this man to be a better person, in spite of his flaws.

I was utterly riveted by this story, got a splendid introduction to his music, and felt wonder at the maelstrom of opportunity and racial obstacles that is this United States. One of the best films I have seen in years.

Warmly recommended.

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"Ray" is OK

"Ray" is what I would describe as a standard Hollywood version of a high budget biography film. What makes this movie special is the subject; Ray Charles. We get a somewhat complex picture of Ray Charles with interspersed flash backs to give us "deep background". It was generally known that Mr. Charles had his weakness for drugs but I didn't realize how strong the addiction was. The acting is very good but I had a real problem understanding much of the dialogue of Jimmie Foxx; the actor who plays Mr. Charles. I don't recall Ray Charles as a mumbler although I don't know that I saw him all that much in interviews or talk shows. However, if it was the was he spoke, there was no need to put that into the movie and leave many in the audience scratching their heads and wondering what he said. For this he won the Best Actor Oscar? What is the key to "Ray" is the music. It was well presented and I was singing to myself for days after. Enjoy the music and see if you can get subtitles.

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

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