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| Ray, the movie | | Date Created: Feb 05, 2005, 10:34 PM |
 First the interesting story. I know a lot about Ray Charles but typically I didn't see the movie when it was in general release. Who wants to see a bio movie? Apparently not too many other people wanted to see it either. But the buzz grew in relation to Jamie Foxx as Ray Charles and then he won a Golden Globe. So the movie is up for Academy Award nominations and it comes out on DVD this week. Well of course the brilliant idea was to buy it on DVD, skip the movie in the theater, and have a home preview of a relatively recent movie up for Oscar awards.
Apparently someone else had the same idea. By Friday evening when I went to look for it in the usual stores -- all sold out. Even the local supermarket had it but was sold out -- had the VHS version but not the DVD. I wasn't sure I could even get the old VHS to work at home.
By Saturday night, my movie going partner decided to risk the VHS version -- had to call our daughter to figure how to get it to play on the big screen TV. But we got it.
It's worth seeing. Not as great as Million Dollar Baby -- probably about the level of Sideways. It's a bit more than just a bio but here's the official synopsis:
" Born in a poor town in Georgia, Ray Charles went blind at the age of seven shortly after witnessing his younger brother's accidental death. Inspired by a fiercely independent mother who insisted he make his own way in the world, Charles found his calling and his gift behind a piano keyboard. Touring across the Southern musical circuit, the soulful singer gained a reputation and then exploded with worldwide fame when he pioneered incorporating gospel, country, jazz and orchestral influences into his inimitable style. As he revolutionized the way people appreciated music, he simultaneously fought segregation in the very clubs that launched him and championed artists' rights within the corporate music business."
I had forgotten the start with Atlantic Records but knew most of the musical transitions, the Raylettes, the junkie past, and the hits. The young Quincy Jones was a nice treat as was Curtis Armstrong (too may roles as a dweeb to remember) as Ahmet Ertegun. There were some very moving moments both musically and socially.
But the big thrill was Jamie Foxx as Ray Charles. Of course the singing was dubbed in but Foxx sold the part like nothing I've ever seen. He was Ray Charles. You never doubt it. I'm sure he had a lot of help movie-wise but he deserves the Oscar for that one. It's worth seeing the movie for that alone.
Of course you don't win Oscars just because you put on the best performance of the year. Foxx is up for a supporting actor role which could confuse things, and there's the Hollywood PC police who could help him or hurt him depending on which way the wind is blowing. Don Cheadle is also up for Best Actor, and from what I've seen did a great job with that role too. As I've mentioned before, it would be easier to pick the winner if I hadn't seen the performance.
Oh well. Back to the books.
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