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Ray
Video/DVD Stats & Links |
| Starring: |
Jamie Foxx, Kerry Washington,
Regina King, Clifton Powell, Harry Lennix |
| MPAA Rated: |
PG-13 |
| Released By: |
Universal Pictures |
| Web Site: |
www.raymovie.com |
| Kiddie Movie: |
Not too young,
although seeing Ray's drug addiction might be a good lesson. |
| Date Movie: |
It's good for all. |
| Gratuitous Sex: |
Not gratuitous,
but it's goin' on. |
| Gratuitous
Violence: |
Not really. |
| Action: |
Not really. |
| Laughs: |
A chuckle or two. |
| Memorable
Scene: |
Ray, realizing he
doesn't need his back-up singers, and instead sings all of the
parts in harmony. |
| Memorable
Quote: |
Too many to list. |
| Directed By: |
Taylor Hackford |
| Produced By: |
Howard Baldwin,
Karen Baldwin, Taylor Hackford, Stuart Benjamin |
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Cool Things About the DVD |
| Appreciate
Jamie! |
The DVD extras
showing Ray working with Jamie Foxx, how Jamie Foxx made
himself "blind" while playing the role, and the acceptance of
everyone else in Ray's life of Jamie Foxx playing Ray is
enough to not make me annoyed at Jamie Foxx anymore. |
| Learn Spanish &
French! |
Yup, the subtitles
are there if you want them. |
| Buy a new TV! |
If you haven't
already, one of these times you'll finally break down and buy
a big screen TV to appreciate the widescreen version. |
| Buy a sound
system. |
Music orientated
movies and action movies are best heard with the best sound
system you can afford. |
| Anything Else! |
There's an option
to watch the movie with the deleted scenes put back in at
there appropriate places. Sure it makes the movie over
3 hours, but it works, and besides, you're at home so you
can always hit "Pause" to borrow the bathroom and not miss
anything. |
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Ray
A Video/DVD Review |
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As I watched the DVD of Ray, again I began to appreciate
the fabulousness of this movie, especially if you are a fan
of music, and especially if you are a fan of Ray Charles.
Then, as I watched some of the extras on the DVD, I decided
that Jamie Foxx can do all of the posing and kinda
self-congratulatory things has been doing lately because,
well, he really deserves it. Let's first get to the
story...
"Ray" simply
tells a lot of the story of Ray Charles, with great flashbacks to
influential moments of him as a little boy, weaving his way from
meeting Quincy Jones in Seattle, being in a band, getting addicted to
heroin, eventually going out on his own, showing his brilliant
business flair, how a blind man could be a ladies man, how he loved
his wife but still had love on the road, and intermingled with all of
that is the story of how Ray Charles was one of the great music
innovators of generations. And none of this would have been possible
without one of the greatest performances of a movie career, and that
being the performance of Jamie Foxx. That is not to take away from a
fabulous cast, but it was Jamie Foxx’s ability to at times make me
think it was Ray Charles on the screen that really made this movie
work.
Look, I don’t want to give away any of Ray’s story if you don’t
know it, because I didn’t know a lot of his past, like how he helped
bring focus to the civil rights movement, so reviewing individual
aspects of the movie isn’t going to happen for this review. I will
just say that I learned a lot about a man who I knew had struggles,
but didn’t realize a lot of the demons he faced.
The only problem I had with the movie when it hit theaters was that
it seemed a little incomplete, but I suppose you've got to end the
movie somewhere. As I watched the DVD, I didn't get that feeling
this time around because I just sat there appreciating the movie.
I still wondered a few things about Ray's life after being welcomed
back into Georgia, like if he and his onetime band leader Jeff ever
ironed things out. Yea, I know, it's probably in an
autobiography somewhere, but for now, I'll just wonder.
"Ray" is a fabulous look at a beloved man who
most people probably don’t realize had so many demons. Jamie Foxx
really makes you believe it is Ray Charles up there on the screen
telling his story, and that is one acting job I don’t think many
actors could pull off.
As far as the DVD, it gives you a few extras, as most DVD's do.
The deleted scenes are interesting, but for the most part it was okay
to leave them out with the movie already clocking in at over 2 1/2
hours. What was more interesting was the look at how Jamie Foxx
worked incredibly hard to make his portrayal of Ray as true to form as
he could, and how Ray pushed to make sure Foxx would do him justice.
The point where Ray accepts Jamie is the point you can see Ray seem to
say to himself, "I'm okay with this now." Also on the DVD, if
you are a fan of the musical performances during the movie, there's a
selection of complete and uncut music performances from the movie.
This movie a 5 starrer out of
5, and if you want a very candid look at the genius and troubles of
one of the great music innovators, rent or buy "Ray."
That’s it for this one! I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!! |
