Ray (Full Screen Edition)

Buy This Item Ray (Full Screen Edition) by Universal Studios  Available from Amazon  $17.99  on 11-24-2008     Jamie Foxx's uncannily accurate performance isn't the only good thing about <I>Ray</I>. 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. <I>--Jeff Shannon</I> --This text refers to the <I>Theatrical Release</I> edition. <p> <span class="h1"><strong>More on Ray Charles</strong></span> <table cellpadding="4" border="0" width="100%" cellspacing="4"><p> <tr class="tiny" valign="top" align="center"> <td><img border="0" src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0000032B4.01.TZZZZZZZ.jpg"> Modern Sounds In Country and Western Music (CD)</td><p> <td><img border="0" src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000002I4U.01.TZZZZZZZ.jpg"> The Genius of Ray Charles (CD)</td><p> <td><img border="0" src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0000063EW.01.TZZZZZZZ.jpg"> Ray Charles and Betty Carter--Dedicated to You (CD)</td> </tr><p> <tr class="tiny" valign="top" align="center"> <td><img border="0" src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00000343O.01.TZZZZZZZ.jpg"> Genius & Soul--The 50th Anniversary Collection (CD)</td><p> <td><img border="0" src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/1557046492.01.TZZZZZZZ.jpg"> Ray: A Tribute to the Movie, the Music, and the Man (book)</td><p> <td><img border="0" src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0002F7I9Y.01.TZZZZZZZ.jpg"> More Albums by Ray Charles</td> </tr> </table> Reader Reviews I became caught up in this dramatic tale of the life of Ray Charles. I had read that Jamie Foxx was going to portray Ray, so I gave the movie a chance. I never knew much about Ray Charles, though I used to be into '50s, '60s and Elvis tunes. Somehow, I never experienced much music of Ray Charles. After watching this film, I immediately purchased a "Best of" collection of his music, because I was astounded by his musical ability, craftsmanship, and lifestyle. Ray Charles is amazing, and Jamie Foxx put a great deal of effort into portraying him for this biographical film.

Ray (Full Screen Edition) Available from Amazon Price: $17.99 Updated on 11-24-2008.

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