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Ray
Directed by Taylor Hackford. Story: The life and career of Ray Charles, the popular pianist. Running Time: 2hrs 32 minutes. Certificate 15.
Biopics are a tricky genre to master. If the subject has led an interesting and varied life, it's difficult to cram it all into 3 hours, but 3 hours is still a hell of a long time to sit riveted in a cinema. Ray is seemingly aware of this and so only covers the first half of his career, but even so, it stretches to two and a half hours. Call me fickle, but given that the story doesn't twist and turn much, that's too long.
Ray is a colourful and detailed portrayal of a musical legend. It's worth watching for the central performance, but unfortunately there isn't enough variation in the story to warrant the long running time, and so the last 45 minutes seem like a drag. This is a great shame, as up to that point it is a novel and interesting story. Maybe it's the absence of humour in the second half, maybe it's the downturn in Ray's life until he "straightens up and flies right" - whatever it is, the second half is more a test of endurance than a conclusion to a story. Ray's recovery from his heroin addiction is crammed into the end, thus losing much of its weight - it would have been better to leave this part out and finish earlier. Maybe this is a film that will benefit from its DVD release, allowing the viewer to have a break in the middle. Watch it at the cinema only if you are of a patient disposition. I enjoyed this film: I think the average moviegoer will enjoy it: Testosterone Satisfaction Rating: A quick boob-flash from Aunjanue Ellis, some non-family values and some heroin usage. To enjoy this film you should: watch it in two halves.
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Your commentsThe comments printed here are not necessarily the views of Forwardcharm!
I thought that "Ray" was one of the best films I have seen in a long time, and it really got me interested in Ray Charles' life. I found it fascinating that someone with such enormous problems in his life could still produce some of the best, most inspiring and catchy tunes I have ever heard. I also felt that Foxx played the part brilliantly, and that they picked the perfect man to portray Ray.
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Cast: Jamie Foxx, Kerry Washington, Regina King, Clifton Powell, Bokeem Woodbine.
Ray is a difficult story to pitch. Set in a bygone era where values were different, Ray is both an inspirational
musical genius and an adulterous junkie. Somehow the director makes his negative character traits appear
acceptable, even cute, while never lapsing into mawkish sentimentality. Ray's wife is aware of his infidelities
and, though clearly against the idea, accepts it as part of the on-the-road lifestyle. His heroin addiction is
more of an issue, but is still portrayed as just another part of his life. This is the first time I can remember
a heroin addiction being portrayed on screen as such a minor part of someone's life - it's arguable if this is a
wise move, morally speaking. More constructively, Ray's blindness is never seen as a
major hurdle to his life or progress, which although perhaps inaccurate, creates an inspirational feel for the
rest of us who are burdened with
nothing more limiting than the occasional fall into plonkerdom.
Jamie Foxx does a grand job of mimicking Ray Charles. In most scenes he wears the trademark shades - in these
scenes it's spooky how much like Ray Charles he looks, capturing his mannerisms to a tee. His piano-playing scenes
look entirely genuine, Foxx's fingers even looking like an experienced piano player's, to the untrained eye at least
(i.e. mine). I'm convinced that at least some of the songs are sung by Ray himself rather than Foxx ("Georgia on My Mind",
in particular, sounded like the real thing),
but this does not seem incongruous as Foxx is doing such a good impersonation in the first place. The supporting
cast provide adequate support - though the child actors look distinctly uncomfortable with the whole idea. With
pint-sized performers the quality of Freddie Highmore and Dakota Fanning available, it seems peculiar to have your
next-door neighbour's kids play such important roles.
