YES, IT'S THE SAME GUY FROM BOOTY CALL

By: B -- 11/12/04

By now we’ve all heard plenty about the new film Ray. Jamie Foxx’s portrayal of music legend Ray Charles has been the talk of the movie industry, and Foxx is expected to ride the wave all the way to an Oscar nomination. Suspiciously, there has been little mention of the sheer movie-making quality of Ray. This was a red flag for B upon entering the theater, but I left quite satisfied, which is rare considering the biopic genre.

Ray begins in 1948, when a young Ray Charles sets off to Seattle, a young, blind black man determined to make something of his exceptional piano skills. He enters a smoky blues bar and is quickly given a shot to show his skills. Within five seconds of striking the first key, the bar manager recognizes his potential and begins planning his future. The story begins.

The film shows Ray’s rise to his now legendary status, but also focuses on the roadblocks he had to cross to get there. Throughout his climb to the top, we are shown flashbacks of his troubled youth through a colorful and dated lens. These scenes increase as the demons take hold of Ray and threaten to jeopardize his potential.

Besides struggling with his tragic childhood memories, Ray is faced with every other problem possible: family, adultery, racism, drugs, and more. These challenges are all handled in the slow Act 2. Ray loses its focus at this point, leaving the viewer curious as to what this movie is about. Social issues from the late 60s? Overcoming drug addiction? The importance of family? Ray tries to tackle everything, which at times results in a convoluted message. It often turns into a made-for-VH1 film of clichés, involving heroes and villains rather than solid storytelling.

However, the music and performances in Ray are so strong they make up for any moviemaking shortcuts and setbacks.

Ray Charles’ fantastic tunes are immortalized in this film, with such greats as “Georgia On My Mind” and my personal favorite, “Mess Around.” Director Tyler Hackford also shows us the story behind these songs, which adds depth and personality to the famous tunes.

The performances of the main characters are exceptional. Regina King’s portrayal of Ray’s lover Margie Hendricks is especially fiery and determined, owing to the alcohol-soaked, passion-filled times on the road.

The main takeaway from Ray is this: there will come a time in this film that you will forget that the Ray Charles on the screen is actually Jamie Foxx. It may come right away, it may take a while to set in, but count on this happening. His performance is so smooth, going beyond a spot-on imitation to demonstrate the depth and passion of Ray. Foxx simply is Ray Charles, the embodiment catapulting the film to new heights.

I now know why no one is talking about the quality of Ray. It’s not that the film is bad – because it really is a strong, if at times clichéd, story of Ray Charles – it’s just that Foxx’s portrayal is so good it overshadows the film. Much like Ray Charles, Jamie Foxx’s performance is larger than life.

POP RATING: 8

CRITICAL RATING: 7

B'S RATING: 7.5

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