Ray (Widescreen Edition)
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Movie Reviews of Ray (Widescreen Edition)
Movie Review: Amazing---Foxx is one of the best actors of this century
Summary: 5 Stars
Giving life to a character who only exists on the printed page is a challenge to an actor. Making your performance mimic that of a real life person with as much vitality and genius as Ray Charles would almost be an Olympian endeavor. Maybe in twenty or so years it wouldn't be, but there are many people who have grown up with Charles' music, seen him live, and on television.
Jamie Foxx worked blindfolded alongside Ray Charles to learn to play piano, walk, move like a blind man. How he managed to imbue the role with the soul of the man, is comparable in acting to Charles' musical talent.
No, the story isn't pretty. Charles moved from alcohol to heroin with almost the same rocket-like speed as his career. He also had affairs with his backup singers. The movie doesn't gloss over any of this--or the dues he paid as consequences.
The music is wonderful--overseen by Mr. Charles before his death, the acting is superb. Overall, the movie's an inspiration and very worth having in your collection.
I do not recommend the long version for entertainment's sake. The added scenes are poorly edited and choppily inserted. Plus you have an annoying 'helpful' icon to tell you that what you are watching has been added. In theory, I like the concept of the icon. In application, I'm glad they give a choice of short or long versions because I actually prefer the short one.
Movie Review: Foxx heads a distinguished cast in a superb biography!
Summary: 5 Stars
What a whirlwind year is Foxx having!!! Nominated for three Golden Globes for "Ray," "Collateral," and the television film "Redemption," the actor is a shoo-in to get an Oscar nod this spring. It is obvious that the former stand-up comic and television star is a force of reckoning in the entertainment industry.
"Ray" allows Foxx to showcase his superb gift of mimicry for he totally immerses himself in the role of the late musical legend. In each scene in which he is featured, the actor is not just playing a role, he IS Ray Charles.
Brilliantly supporting Foxx are Kerry Washington as long-suffering and supportive wife "Della Bea," Regina King as one Charles's back-up singers, and Sharon Warren is unforgettable as Ray's mother "Aretha." Aunjanue Ellis is also superb as "Mary Ann Fisher," another singer that had her designs on Charles.
Young actors C.J. Sanders and Terrone Bell are most effective as young "Ray" and "George," respectively.
It is also refreshing to see Clifton Powell, an actor frequently cast as a "heavy," in the role of "Jeff Brown," a trusted friend and aide of the blind singer.
Director Taylor Hackford also deserves credit for bringing out the best in each performer, as well as having a good eye for the period. The costuming, the set pieces, and the tone of the flick capture the 50's and 60's marvelously.
Movie Review: A good film made superior by an incredible performance
Summary: 5 Stars
You've probably heard enough hype in the past couple of months about Jamie Foxx's performance in the Ray Charles biopic.Well, I'll say it again: Jamie Foxx is maddeningly good as Ray Charles. Not only does Foxx share an uncanny resemblance to Charles, he gets so deep inside the real Ray Charles, that the two breathe as one. He doesn't imitate Charles's traits and mannerisms: he adopts them as his own, and if there is any justice left (which I doubt) in the acedemy, they will grant Foxx his much deserved academy award for what will be known years from now as a landmark performance.
I'm not usually a fan of biopics.They strike me as insipid, superficial, and pretensious.But "Ray" really got to me. It actually told me the story of this legened in an engrossing manner-it was touching without being trite.Ray is a very long film, but it flew by.It is by turns humorous, tragic, and triumphant.Most of all, it successfully does what very few biopics are able to do-it conveys a clear essence of who this man was-Ray the man, not the star.More than that, all of the supporting characters in the film are believable and 3-dimensional.
Superb performances from the ENTIRE cast, and spine-tingling music from the genius himself can't hurt.
But what truly raises Ray to the bar of excellence is Foxx's UNBELIEVABLE performance.His acting alone makes this film worth seeing.
Movie Review: Great Acting, Good Story
Summary: 5 Stars
I really enjoyed watching Jamie Fox play Ray Charles simply because he did such a great job being Ray Charles. It totally felt like you were watching the life of Ray Charles. The movie was cool because I learned so much I did not know. I have listened to a little Ray Charles, as most people have. I enjoy his innovative R & B and Gospel Sound. One of the qualities the film promotes well, something I had known, is the excellent versatility and range of styles Charles could play.
I really was not aware how much of how much a junkie and drug abuser the singer really was. The film really did a great job in capturing the severe faults of the artist as well as capturing the ways he overcame his obstacles. All of the acting was superb, and Jamie Fox really really shines, showing his amazing talent. So much of film is pure junk but I no doubt feel this feature adds a lot to the life of Charles and the potential for films.
The actress who played Charles wife and mother also did excellent jobs, as well as the fellow who played Quincy Jones. Even more could have been added but I also understand the reasons for editing for time. I liked the scene at the end with the Georgia State Legislators. Julian Bond is a punk though, too bad he has to be such a political hack. Anyways this is a quality film I enjoyed the deep portrayal of all of the singers faults and demons.
Movie Review: The best Acting I've seen on screen
Summary: 5 Stars
A movie completely worth of watching should have this one key element - A powerful performance, one where the actor(or actress) truly becomes that character, or in some cases like in "Ray", a real person.
Jamie Foxx took this project on with great gusto, and what an amazing achievement it is! I often forgot i was watching a movie and really thought it was the Real Ray.
I want to make the movie loving public highly aware just how much RAY truly deserves viewing time.
Be prepared for a truly amazing feat - Jamie Foxx is Ray Charles! Ray Charles was a very hip, cool pioneer of music.
This biographic film version doesn't sugarcoat his life in any way. You see it all here -- why he went blind, what his childhood was like, how he got into music and set off on a whirlwind trip into the musical future he had. Drugs, sex, and Ray Charles' music - Not sure how to classify it, very jazzy/bluesy feeling, and maybe a smidge of country. It's filmed in many flashbacks in his life, as it tries to piece together how his life was mapped out.
I didn't see a lot of the films from 2004 nor have I seen many of the Oscar nominees. Ray is the first of that kind. But I will not forget it, and I will watch it many times as I own the DVD.
You will learn, be amazed, and be blown away! Watch Ray!
Eileen F.