Review - Ray [written November 2004]

“Jamie Foxx for President!”
OK so it’s too late for that. But here now is my unqualified endorsement of the motion picture Ray currently playing locally. You may not be as familiar with Ray Charles as you are with the Jackson Five, the Miracles or the Temptations perhaps because he was not a part of the ubiquitous Motown label (he was signed first by Atlantic Records). Or you may say it is because of your age. In any event Ray Charles was still something of an unknown to us. However, he may have had more of an impact upon contemporary music than any in the Motown crowd. For example, Ray was the first to combine music from his Gospel roots with Blues, Jazz, R&B and with Country & Western music. His was the music that Elvis Presley copied. He refused to let styles get in his way – he simply used them all.
Do you like the ballad “Georgia on my mind”? Did you know that Ray was banned for life from Georgia until 1979? The movie tells the story. From his humble start as one of two sons of a poor but resourceful and strong willed young mother, a Georgia sharecropper; to his international acclaim, this movie spins the most beautiful of tales. There are no car chases, no gun battles, no explosions – sorry to disappoint you. This movie is story telling like we used to enjoy at grandma’s knee.
When you watch this film, stop for a moment and take in the cinematography, the scenery and the costumes. All reflect the 1930s through to the 1960s: the music, the dance halls, the homes, the cars and the way people danced and dressed.
Jamie Foxx has come a long way since his days on TV and his earlier movies. You may remember that he played Drew Bundini Brown, Muhammad Ali’s confidant in the movie Ali starring Will Smith. That movie for me was his first serious portrayal, and even then it was difficult to take him seriously. And since then we saw him along side Tom Cruise in Collateral, where he played the kidnapped cab driver and he was very good in that role.

Jamie Foxx in his portrayal as Ray Charles is beyond good, he is exceptional. It is a known fact that it is very difficult to portray a living or known character, so this was not an easy role. As an audience we have a picture or memory in our minds of the individual, so we are harsher in our judgment when an actor attempts to re-create the character. For example, Forrest Whitaker (who also directed that all time favorite of the women “Waiting to Exhale”) portrayed jazz saxophonist Charlie ‘Yardbird’ Parker in the movie called ‘Bird’ [1988] which was directed by Clint Eastwood, a jazz fanatic. I thought Forrest Whitaker should have won the Academy Award for that performance, but alas no. My point is that it is easier for me to picture Forrest Whitaker as Bird Parker than Denzel as Hurricane Carter or Will Smith as Ali. While Denzel was very good as both Malcolm X and Rubin Hurricane Carter; and Will Smith outstanding as Muhammad Ali, Jamie Foxx is better than both in his capture of Ray Charles’ mannerisms, expressions and gait. He must win the Academy Award for this performance – there is just no way around it. This is a movie that will make you feel good and will teach you about some things that you did not know about the times and the imitable Ray Charles.

Kerry Washington and Regina King are unforgettable as the women in the life of Ray Charles Robinson. Treat yourself to something wonderful - go see Ray!