'Ray' Sheds Light on Famous Singer's Life

I have to admit I've been looking forward to this movie for a long time, ever since I saw the first preview early last summer. As a musician, I was truly looking forward to peering into the mind of a person widely considered to be a musical genius. After some pre-release reviews, however, I was little apprehensive that Ray just wouldn't be able to live up to what I really wanted to it to be. Well, suffice it to say that Ray is not only one of the best films of type I have ever seen, but it is a never-before-taken journey into the person of Ray Charles and his music that will leave the viewer uplifted, with a new appreciation for what this musician contributed to his professional field and American society.

The movie follows the title character from his beginnings as Ray Robinson, small time country pianist, to Ray Charles, groundbreaking songwriter and musical superstar. Frequent flashbacks give insight into Ray's childhood, the origins of his disability, and resulting emotional issues. While the film clearly shows what strength and creativity that was ever present in Ray's life, it doesn't gloss anything over. Ray's open womanizing in his early career, his failings as a father, and his delve into heroin addiction are are heart-heartbreakingly portrayed, and the audience will acutely feel Ray's struggle with personal responsibility and guilt as he faces the consequences of his choices.

Music is of course integral to the telling of this great man's story, and it permeates the movie. Appreciation of Ray Charles' unique fusion of blues, gospel, and country is almost completely necessary to enjoy this biopic. An amazing air of authenticity is achieved through the exclusive use of original Ray Charles recordings, to which Jamie Foxx lip syncs flawlessly. (Of interesting note: Jamie Foxx actually attended college on a piano scholarship, and took lessons in singing and piano from Ray Charles in preparation for this role. And what a roll is was...)

Foxx delivers a stellar performance, mimicking one of the most original personalities in popular music with apparent effortlessness. Every nuance of Ray's characteristic body language and speech are so faithfully reproduced it's uncanny. This film will, without a doubt, launched Jamie Foxx into a new phase of his career as a actor.

Unfortunately, his supporting cast, while very strong in the acting department, is weakened by a sometimes predictable and contrite sounding script, which really takes a bit from the overall enjoyment of the movie.

The film has its artistic moments, but doesn't quite take it all the way. It too often lapses into a documentary style format, progressing from year to year at slow pace (run time for the whole thing is just over two and half hours) and too much information is conveyed via text at the bottom the screen.

These are my only qualms, though, and they are far outweighed by the many positive aspects of this entertaining and insightful film. Ray stars Jamie Foxx, Kerry Washington, Clifton Powell, Harry Lennix, Terrence Dashon Howard, Larenz Tate, Richard Schiff, & Regina King. Taylor Hackford was directory, and the screenplay was written by James L. White. It gets an A- from me.