"Ray" is a good film buoyed by a truly, utterly, magnificent performance by Jamie Foxx. He is simply unforgettable as the musician Ray Charles. The film itself is overlong and often oddly paced. It's good intentions save it, but it really ends up being a missed opportunity.

I have a background with Ray Charles. I have been a fan since I was 7 and heard him on a "Master's of Rock and Roll" CD. It struck my young self as being simply amazing that a blind, black man who grew up in the racist South could grow up to be one of the most successful musicians of all time. "Hit the Road Jack" and "I've Got a Woman" are staples of my childhood. Yes, I am the audience for this film.

Foxx. Jamie Foxx. Oscar. Wow.

Yes, what you've heard is true. Foxx, an actor who before 2004 I didn't give a damn about, gives a performance that is far from an imitation; it is an embodiment. It is not mimicry, it is BEING. Foxx prepared for the role by actually meeting with the now-late Charles and learning to play the piano blindfolded with him. On set, he had his eyes glued shut at all times. The effect is awe-inspiring. Foxx has Charles' manner of speaking down to a T. The way he walks and moves when he sings is dead-on accurate. It's easy to forget that this an actor, not Ray Charles. Wow.

I admire director Taylor Hackford for making this film. He's been trying to get it done for 10 years. I admire the fact that this is a "warts and all" film; none of Charles' flaws have been smoothed over. I admire that he managed to make it with a budget that is pennies compared to "The Aviator."

I don't admire that the film REALLY drags at the end and feels much longer than it's 150 minutes. I don't admire the "swipe cuts" he often uses. These always distract me whenever a director uses them, and it's reached the point where they thoroughly piss me off every time they show up.

Foxx.

Yes, he is the real reason to see this. That and the opportunity to see Charles' music performed like it would really look if Charles was alive today.

Movie: B
Foxx: A+

© Written by Jacob Hall

How We Rated This Film TC Candler -     Richard Propes - B Jacob Hall - B+

TC Candler's Comment

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Richard Propes' Comment

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