 Movie
Reviews
with Evelyn Gough
Ray (M)
Directed by Taylor Hackford
 Jamie Foxx stars as legendary bluesman Ray Charles in Ray.
Here's my tip for the best actor Oscar: Jamie Foxx in Ray, the musical bio-drama about the legendary musician Ray Charles. Once again Foxx proves what a superlative actor he is. He out-cruised Tom Cruise in the thriller Collateral and is now wowing audiences with his amazing performance as soul, jazz and blues great Ray Charles. What's more, he played the whole role with his eyes glued shut!
The movie covers a four-decade period of Ray Charles' life, beginning with his childhood in Georgia in the 1930s. At the age of five he witnessed a terrible tragedy that would affect him for the rest of his life and two years later, at the age of seven, he began to go blind.
Advised by his mother Aretha (Sharon Warren) never to let his blindness make him a cripple, a teenage Ray made the 3500-mile bus journey alone to Seattle hoping to crack into the booming jazz scene. Things were tough at first but Ray Charles' obvious talent soon caught the eye of record producers and he was on his way to fame, fortune and a heroin addiction that would nearly cost him his marriage and his freedom.
Looking on the bright side I figured that even if Ray proved to be a stinker, the music would be fabulous. But I needn't have worried, this film is a fascinating insight into a true musical genius and yes, the music is totally fab! Before Ray Charles died last year, he was able to collaborate with the filmmakers, lending his voice and piano playing skills to the soundtrack.
Jamie Foxx has already won a Golden Globe for his brilliant performance and is now in the running for an Academy Award (go Jamie! go Jamie!) and his co stars are also excellent. They include Kerry Washington as his wife Della Bea and Aunjanue Ellis and Regina King as Mary Ann Fisher and Margie Hendricks, the back-up singers with whom he had affairs!
This is a real treat! Highly recommended. Now I'm off to buy the soundtrack.
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