Ray is a movie that has been generating Oscar buzz for months. A film based on the life of musician Ray Charles that, some say, will be THE breakout role for actor Jamie Foxx. This movie is a film that could also, perhaps, take an Oscar for Best Picture. Could all of this buzz be warranted? Is all this “hype” for real?
You better believe it. This movie is just that damn good.
Everything about this movie is superb. Following a relatively linear timeframe, with flashbacks from Ray’s childhood thrown in, the movie starts off with Ray leaving Northern Florida by bus and heading for Seattle. In the opening five minutes, we discover almost everything we need to know about Ray Charles we need to know. One, he will always get his way; and two, he is as shrewd and conniving as he is charismatic. We follow him through his early years, playing in small swing joints before signing with Atlantic records, and later ABC/Paramount. We see him fall in love and get addicted to heroin. We see a man on top of the world and is torturously lonely. We witness a man discover himself. And along the way we grow to admire and adore this man. We discover that Ray was a man who didn’t let his disabilities bind him. He was a man who didn’t let anybody play him a fool. Ray was a man with dreams and a drive to always be more than he was. And through his heartache we see where the soul of his music lived.
Notice how I didn’t refer to Ray Charles as Jamie Foxx in the preceding paragraph? I did that on purpose. This movie doesn’t have Foxx in it. I know what you are thinking; “It doesn’t have Jamie Foxx in it?” That’s right. You don’t see Jamie Foxx in this film. The entire time you are watching Ray Charles Robinson. Ever little quirk of the legend is in this performance. I swear to you, it is like Ray Charles himself possesses Jamie Foxx in this film. Never before have I seen a man capture so much soul on-screen. It is unimaginable how good Jamie Foxx is in this film. I’m still in awe of it. (And if Foxx loses to Tom Hanks for The Terminal, I’m going to be one very upset reviewer.) And even more, the supporting cast does just as good as Jamie Foxx does. It honestly feels more like you are watching the real life of a man rather than a movie. It truly is incredible.
The only downside of enjoying this amazing movie is its length. It clocks in at almost 2:45, which means it’s a long haul of a film. This causes the pacing as a whole to be somewhat moderate and very methodical. But believe me, the movie is good enough that you really don’t care.
Filled with the classic music of the Legend himself (complete with new recordings), Ray truly is a masterpiece of a film. It is easily the best bio-pic to date (beating out Pride of the Yankees) and I would go as far as saying it could be one of the best movies of all time. With a glorious, inspirational story and performances that are out of this world, it mixes humor, heart, heartache and more into an intoxicating delight. This movie isn’t about the music. It isn’t even about the performances. This movie is simply about a man who became a legend. And while you are watching it, you can honestly feel like you are watching the legend himself, and he is still just smiling away.
4 OUT OF FOUR STARS
Overall Summary- If you like Ray Charles, see this movie. If you like music, see this movie. Shoot, if you like the movies see this movie. Just see this amazing film. But be sure you go to the bathroom first.
You better believe it. This movie is just that damn good.
Everything about this movie is superb. Following a relatively linear timeframe, with flashbacks from Ray’s childhood thrown in, the movie starts off with Ray leaving Northern Florida by bus and heading for Seattle. In the opening five minutes, we discover almost everything we need to know about Ray Charles we need to know. One, he will always get his way; and two, he is as shrewd and conniving as he is charismatic. We follow him through his early years, playing in small swing joints before signing with Atlantic records, and later ABC/Paramount. We see him fall in love and get addicted to heroin. We see a man on top of the world and is torturously lonely. We witness a man discover himself. And along the way we grow to admire and adore this man. We discover that Ray was a man who didn’t let his disabilities bind him. He was a man who didn’t let anybody play him a fool. Ray was a man with dreams and a drive to always be more than he was. And through his heartache we see where the soul of his music lived.
Notice how I didn’t refer to Ray Charles as Jamie Foxx in the preceding paragraph? I did that on purpose. This movie doesn’t have Foxx in it. I know what you are thinking; “It doesn’t have Jamie Foxx in it?” That’s right. You don’t see Jamie Foxx in this film. The entire time you are watching Ray Charles Robinson. Ever little quirk of the legend is in this performance. I swear to you, it is like Ray Charles himself possesses Jamie Foxx in this film. Never before have I seen a man capture so much soul on-screen. It is unimaginable how good Jamie Foxx is in this film. I’m still in awe of it. (And if Foxx loses to Tom Hanks for The Terminal, I’m going to be one very upset reviewer.) And even more, the supporting cast does just as good as Jamie Foxx does. It honestly feels more like you are watching the real life of a man rather than a movie. It truly is incredible.
The only downside of enjoying this amazing movie is its length. It clocks in at almost 2:45, which means it’s a long haul of a film. This causes the pacing as a whole to be somewhat moderate and very methodical. But believe me, the movie is good enough that you really don’t care.
Filled with the classic music of the Legend himself (complete with new recordings), Ray truly is a masterpiece of a film. It is easily the best bio-pic to date (beating out Pride of the Yankees) and I would go as far as saying it could be one of the best movies of all time. With a glorious, inspirational story and performances that are out of this world, it mixes humor, heart, heartache and more into an intoxicating delight. This movie isn’t about the music. It isn’t even about the performances. This movie is simply about a man who became a legend. And while you are watching it, you can honestly feel like you are watching the legend himself, and he is still just smiling away.
4 OUT OF FOUR STARS
Overall Summary- If you like Ray Charles, see this movie. If you like music, see this movie. Shoot, if you like the movies see this movie. Just see this amazing film. But be sure you go to the bathroom first.
