Release Date: 17 February 2005

Synopsis:

If a life is merely the sum of its parts, then the story of Ray Charles might read as a tale of personal highs and lows behind a lengthy, award-winning career in the music business.
But for a man who synthesized his struggles, pain and personal darkness as effectively as he incorporated a myriad of musical styles—Jazz, Rhythm & Blues, Rock and Roll, Gospel, Country & Western—into his art, the story reads much differently, transformed from a sequence of events and accomplishments into a compelling and ultimately inspiring journey of a one-of-a-kind genius with a distinct vision…who, along the way, gave the world a new way to hear.
Ray is the never-before-told, musical biographical drama of American legend Ray Charles, brought to the big screen following a 15-year journey by award-winning filmmaker TAYLOR HACKFORD and featuring a remarkable performance from the multifaceted JAMIE FOXX.

Movie Review:

With 12 Grammy Awards, including the prestigious Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, sitting on the shelves, plus a recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors, an inductee of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Blues Hall of Fame and the NAACP Image Hall of Fame, it's hard to leave the life-story of music genius Ray Charles untold.

“Ray”, directed, produced and written by Taylor Hackford, whose earlier works includes “La bamba”, “The Devil’s Advocates” and “Proof of Life”, begins the extraordinary journey of young Ray Charles traveling alone from Florida, across the United States to the musically vibrant Seattle, trying to realize his dreams as a musician. When in Seattle, the broke and blind Ray was not spared from the crooks and cheats. He struggled to please his mean manageress and his band of brothers, who taken advantage of his handicap to pocket most of his wages. Fortunately, the darkness does not hinder him to grow fast matured. He fumes off these despicable being and managed to clinch a deal with Atlantic Records that goes on to makes him famous.

Shortly after his success, the down time soon follows as he battles his drugs addiction and polygamy ways. Not wanting to hurt his love ones anymore, Ray desperately search for an answer to his plight which traces as far back to his youth, when he witness his brother George drown and coincidentally the gradual lost of his vision shortly after. Ray must overcome his fears and regrets before emerging as the immortal musician of our time.

This biography picture, which told the story of a courageous blind man, could have move audience to tears. However, the movie is surprising not emotionally stirring. In fact, the director does not allow you to sympathise with Ray, much like the merciless training that Ray's mother had given him. Since young, Ray’s mother disallowed him to depend on cane, dog or any other tools that a blind man needs. The alternative training that requires his hands, hearings and memory, not only enable Ray to make his way around with minimum assistance, but also ensure his survivability in the society, deem to be relentless and scornful in that time. One thing his mother strongly believed, never allow anyone to see him a handicap. The director had successfully conveyed that message.

The story of Ray is also nothing close to inspiring. Ray Charles highly respected musical gift asides, his behaviour in the early years were not much of a role model that our children or we should follow. However, the movie served a stern warning (which Ray Charles himself may had wanted to deliver to audience) of the horrible consequences of drug addiction, showing a haunting scene of Ray undergoing treatment in the rehabilitation center. It also insinuates the harm from womanizing as Ray’s father (who have three wife) brings suffering to his single mother. Ironically, Ray himself similarly causes unforgivable hurt to both his wife and his mistress.

Guess there’s always a price to pay for fame. Fortunately for Ray, he could have further mutilates his life and love ones if he were not a blind man. It is interesting that the movie uncover what’s going on in a blind man mind since we all knows they "sees" only total darkness. In the case of Ray, the images of his younger years amusing with his brother and his mother touting him with words of wisdom lingers in his “vision”.

Jamie Foxx is especially commendable for his role as Ray. He is born-natural as Ray Charles, speaking and swaying with the unique accents of the great musician. Every slightest details down to the way Ray perform in front of the piano have been so well-convey by him that you thought you seeing Ray Charles in the movie! It is no wonder that Jamie Foxx was crowned the Best Actor - musical or comedy, in the 62nd Golden Globes for his role as Ray Charles!"

It is always difficult to fully satisfy audience with a biography picture. Ray Charles life story was so rich that the movie ended up expectedly, unfulfilling as the script writer choose to merely scratch on controversial topics, like racial segregation, blasphemy and sex

What’s expected of Ray could have been his excellent masterpieces liked “I’ve got a Woman”, “What’d I say”, “Georgia on My Mind”, “I can’t stop loving you” and many more great hits running throughout the movie, which one can't help but keep tapping their feet and nodding their heads to the rhythm.

Movie Rating: B

Review by Leosen Teo