We went to see the movie called Ray, yesterday. It’s a new movie that was release this month.
Before we went to see it, I read that Jamie Foxx, had worn blindfolds for a few weeks, to see how it felt to be blind.
The Director wanted some one else to play the piano and sing the songs. Jamie Foxx, showed them that he knew how to play the piano. You will see him playing the piano just like Ray did. He sings as well, but couldn’t convince them to let him sing, so Ray’s vocals are dubbed.
When the film begins, you see a lot of bottles hanging from a tree. They sound like wind chimes, every time the breeze blows.
He often sneaks into a store, where an old man is playing the piano. He asks Ray if he wants to learn how to play, and Ray says he does. The man begins by teaching him 3 notes.
He was a poor boy born in Georgi, in 1930. His mother takes in washing to make a living for Ray and his brother. One day, the brother falls into the steaming water and dies. He feels he is responsible for his death.
When he was seven he began to go blind. His mother tried to prepare him for
When he goes blind she tells him that she will help him the first time, forgive him the second time, he makes a mistake, but after that he’s on his own.
There comes a time when she can’t help him any more, and sends him away to a School for the Blind. She dies and he only sees her in flashbacks, (dreams).
After he finishes school, he lies to get on a bus going to Seattle. That is where he first meets Quincy Jones.
Jones is not an important figure in this movie, I believe he is there to show us how different Ray’s life would have been if he had not begun to use drugs.
The film continues with his life, where he travels, how he changes his music and singing, who he loves, the many people he hurts, until he realizes the person he hurt the most, was himself.
In the middle of the film it got a little boring, how much sex and drugs were needed to make the point he was a naughty man.
I think Jamie Fox played his role, brilliantly, and I hope he gets an Oscar for it.
The Sound Tract:
Mess Around, I Got A Woman, Hallelujah, I Love Her So, Drown In My Own Tears, Night Time Is The Right Time, Marianne, Hard Times, What’d I Say, Georgia On My Mind, Hit The Road Jack, Unchain My Heart, I Can’t Stop Loving You, Born To Lose, Bye Bye Love, You Don’t Know Me and Let The Good Times Roll
The Stars:
Jamie Foxx plays Ray Charles.
Ray’s wife, Della Charles, is played by Kerry Washington.
Quincy Jones is played by Larenz Tate.
Ray’s mother is played by Sharon Warren.
David Krumholtz, plays Ray’s brother Milt.
Other Information:
Directed by Taylor Hackford.
Screen play was written by James White.
Viewing time is over 2 hours.
Rated PG because of the drugs, sex and swearing.
If you haven’t see Ray yet I hope you will. Just hearing his music made this movie great. He was a musical genius and transformed American music.
Thanks for reading my review.
©LL2004