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Trailer here. (http://movies.yahoo.com/movies/feature/ray.html)
Release Date: October 29th, 2004 (wide)
Cast: Jamie Foxx (Ray Charles), Regina King (Margie Hendrix), Kerry Washington (Della Charles), Curtis Armstrong (Ahmet Ertegun), Patrick Bauchau (Dr. Hacker), Warwick Davis (Oberon), Aunjanue Ellis (Ruth Brown), Rick Gomez (Tom Dowd), Terrence Howard (Guitar Slim), David Krumholtz (Milt), Harry J. Lennix, Usher Raymond (Jackie Wilson), C.J. Sanders (Young Ray), Richard Schiff (Gerald "Jerry" Wexler), Larenz Tate (Quincy Jones), Ralph E. Tresvant (Sam Cooke), Robert Wisdom (Jack Lauderdale), Denise Y. Dowse (Marlene Andres), Chris Thomas King (Lowell Fulsom), Afemo Omilami (Mr. Johnson), Elizabeth Omilami (Mrs. Johnson)
Director: Taylor Hackford (An Officer and a Gentleman, Proof of Life, The Devil's Advocate, Dolores Claiborne, Everybody's All-American)
Premise: This is a story of how a young man, Ray Charles (Foxx), from a poor family in Albany, Georgia, who went from glaucoma at the age of 6, overcame the obstacles life placed in his way and became a famous pianist and rock and roll performer. Getting out of Albany was just the start, however, as Charles had to deal with racism, romantic letdowns, and his own heroin abuse. The two loves of his life that this film will most focus on are his wife, Della (Washington), who stood by his side even as Charles cheated on her with his long-time mistress, Margie Hendrix (King), who had a child by him before eventually dying of a drug overdose. (Krumholtz and Wisdom plays Charles' managers; Schiff plays his record company boss; Armstrong plays famed producer Ahmet Ertegun)
i think Jamie Foxx does a fantastic impression of Ray Charles.
Unfortunately, biopics shouldn't be about impressions.
so soon?!
I wonder when the marlon brando one's coming out? next week?
Quote from: dufresnei think Jamie Foxx does a fantastic impression of Ray Charles.
Unfortunately, biopics shouldn't be about impressions.
Uh huh..
Hey, uh.. you know what's funny? Making ridiculous judgements before seeing a biopic.
Quote from: CinephileQuote from: dufresnei think Jamie Foxx does a fantastic impression of Ray Charles.
Unfortunately, biopics shouldn't be about impressions.
Uh huh..
Hey, uh.. you know what's funny? Making ridiculous judgements before seeing a biopic.
Ridiculous judgements makes the world go 'round.
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Quote from: CinephileQuote from: dufresnei think Jamie Foxx does a fantastic impression of Ray Charles.
Unfortunately, biopics shouldn't be about impressions.
Uh huh..
Hey, uh.. you know what's funny? Making ridiculous judgements before seeing a biopic.
i uh, saw it.
Quote from: dufresneQuote from: CinephileQuote from: dufresnei think Jamie Foxx does a fantastic impression of Ray Charles.
Unfortunately, biopics shouldn't be about impressions.
Uh huh..
Hey, uh.. you know what's funny? Making ridiculous judgements before seeing a biopic.
i uh, saw it.
Thanks for clearing that up in your first post. Since you know.. you can see that 'fantastic impression' in the damn TRAILER.
i got a free preview pass to see this movie, but i decided not to go. i doubt i'll pay for it either. biopics are so tired. unless it's a biopic about a guy who grew up to destroy aliens or something like that.
I saw it the other night and it falls in the 'really good biopic that's still just a biopic' category. The performances are stellar, of course, and the music rocks. Jamie Foxx is great and will most likely win an Oscar (although there are certainly better male performances this year, including, perhaps, his own in Collateral). There were a few scenes where you could tell it was the real Ray Charles' voice coming out of his mouth, but those musical scenes are so fantastically executed that it doesn't really matter, and he's really playing the piano and that's impressive all by itself. The supporting cast was also really good, and Warwick Davis got a good chance to shine.
So yeah, good biopic, will make lots of money, etc. About what you expect from the trailer.
Based on a true story!
;)
Quote from: GhostboyI saw it the other night and it falls in the 'really good biopic that's still just a biopic' category. The performances are stellar, of course, and the music rocks. Jamie Foxx is great and will most likely win an Oscar (although there are certainly better male performances this year, including, perhaps, his own in Collateral). There were a few scenes where you could tell it was the real Ray Charles' voice coming out of his mouth, but those musical scenes are so fantastically executed that it doesn't really matter, and he's really playing the piano and that's impressive all by itself. The supporting cast was also really good, and Warwick Davis got a good chance to shine.
So yeah, good biopic, will make lots of money, etc. About what you expect from the trailer.
Just out of curiosity, what would you consider a "Really GREAT biopic that surpasses biopic-ness"?
I choose: Monster.
Quote from: GhostboyI saw it the other night and it falls in the 'really good biopic that's still just a biopic' category. The performances are stellar, of course, and the music rocks. Jamie Foxx is great and will most likely win an Oscar (although there are certainly better male performances this year, including, perhaps, his own in Collateral). There were a few scenes where you could tell it was the real Ray Charles' voice coming out of his mouth, but those musical scenes are so fantastically executed that it doesn't really matter, and he's really playing the piano and that's impressive all by itself. The supporting cast was also really good, and Warwick Davis got a good chance to shine.
So yeah, good biopic, will make lots of money, etc. About what you expect from the trailer.
What specifically makes you predict that it will make a lot of money and garner an Oscar for Foxx? Usually bio-pics don't do that well at the box office, and somehow it doesn't strike me as likely that Foxx'll win one. He might get nominated, but I think the Academy is gonna basically do the same thing they did with Will Smith in Ali and Jim Carrey in Man on the Moon.
Basically, I'm asking if there's anything different about this movie than those other two movies with regards to how the public and the Academy will think of it.
I'd say Ray is as good as Man On The Moon, more complete but not as cinematically interesting as Ali, with a performance by Foxx that is easily on par with Smith and Carrey. I think what will make this a.)more profitable and b.) more Award-friendly than both of those other movies is that Ray Charles just died. I think that will increases the sentimental value of the film quite a bit with theater goers/the academy.
a great movie.....jamie foxx becomes ray charles and knocks it out of the park. though the movie has some really sloppily edited transitions, you'll get over it. i reccomend
Quote from: HedwigQuote from: GhostboyI saw it the other night and it falls in the 'really good biopic that's still just a biopic' category. The performances are stellar, of course, and the music rocks. Jamie Foxx is great and will most likely win an Oscar (although there are certainly better male performances this year, including, perhaps, his own in Collateral). There were a few scenes where you could tell it was the real Ray Charles' voice coming out of his mouth, but those musical scenes are so fantastically executed that it doesn't really matter, and he's really playing the piano and that's impressive all by itself. The supporting cast was also really good, and Warwick Davis got a good chance to shine.
So yeah, good biopic, will make lots of money, etc. About what you expect from the trailer.
Just out of curiosity, what would you consider a "Really GREAT biopic that surpasses biopic-ness"?
I choose: Monster.
Raging Bull for me.
Monster? Feh. Try these:
Mr. Death, the Rise and Fall of Fred A. Leuchter, Jr. (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0192335/)
Crumb (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109508/)
American Splendor (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0305206/)
The Kid Stays in the Picture (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0303353/)
Terminator 2: Judgement Day is my favorite biopic.
Garden State
Clerks
Quote from: ono.Monster? Feh. Try these:
Mr. Death, the Rise and Fall of Fred A. Leuchter, Jr. (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0192335/)
Crumb (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109508/)
American Splendor (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0305206/)
The Kid Stays in the Picture (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0303353/)
Documentaries don't count as biopics...although, I guess they technically are
biographical
pictures. Whatev.
It's not the best, but it's one of my faves: Ed Wood.
Let's finish the discussion here:
http://xixax.com/viewtopic.php?t=6880
spoilers?
I was way more interested in his music than his struggle with drugs or his extra-marital affairs. I guess you really can't separate the three, but I really wish it didn't climax with him getting out of the rehab.
it has some of the best-shot musical sequences though. the chicago people should just kill themselves either samurai style or lemming style.
I saw this the other day. As GB and pete said, really good stuff here. I don't see how the Academy will vote against Jamie Foxx. He embodies the role of Ray Charles and he is surely a lock to be handed the Oscar. Whether we want it or not.
The ending made me laugh. The words that came onto the screen "he never touched heroin again".. I laughed pretty hard because all I could picture was another line appearing that said: "Well... almost never...." and fade to black.
SPOILERS!!!!!
Haha, I was waiting for that.
Quote from: CinephileThe ending made me laugh. The words that came onto the screen "he never touched heroin again".. I laughed pretty hard because all I could picture was another line appearing that said: "Well... almost never...." and fade to black.
hahah! now i want to see this.
Universal has announced the DVD release of Ray for 2/1 (SRP $29.98 ). Video will be anamorphic with Dolby Digital 5.1 audio. No word yet on extras. There will also be a 2-disc Ray: Limited Edition (SRP $44.98 ) that same day.
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MSRP $44.98 :shock:
Thats for the special edition ravi, what the fuck? You think they are just gonna release one version? I'm actually suprised they are releasing the super duper edition on the same day.
I know its for the SE, but so damn expensive. Hell, most Criterion 2-discs are $39.95. These had better be some damn good extras.
Quote from: RaviI know its for the SE, but so damn expensive. Hell, most Criterion 2-discs are $39.95. These had better be some damn good extras.
More details:
Universal Home Video has announced the home video release of the Ray Charles biopic Ray on February 1 in both standard and limited edition releases. The standard set will sell for $29.98 while the two-disc limited edition will fetch $44.98.
Both versions of the film will come with a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen video transfer and English and French Dolby Digital 5.1 audio. Interestingly, both the standard and limited edition releases will include the theatrical cut of the film and an extended cut that runs an extra 25 minutes.
Extras on the standard set include fourteen deleted scenes, complete music performances from the film, the featurette Walking in His Shoes and a memorial on Ray Charles, Ray Remembered.
The giftset will include 20 minutes of additional uncut music performances from the film, a featurettes called Filmmakers' Journey and a collectible photo book.
here, i am a poem:
i saw ray
when i bought the dvd on tuesday
and i am happy to report it wasnt ghey.
but i do have to say
that foxxx's performance was more than ok.
seeing willow also made my day
but he should stick to doing broadway.
piano play
touche.
oh, by the way
does the limited edition dvd also have the commentary track??? its not listed.
Quote from: NEON MERCURYoh, by the way
does the limited edition dvd also have the commentary track??? its not listed.
Yes.
How are the extras? Worth the extra money?
Quote from: RaviHow are the extras? Worth the extra money?
The hassle of finding a flawless copy of the film that doesn't keep freezing isn't.
I went to go rent this but the racist video store was all out of copies.
So I finally saw this and it was pretty good. A formula biopic with some great preformances, some bad preformances, and some fantastic musical numbers.
The movie didn't seem to add at all to the biopic structure with anything inventive enough to really impress me. It was fairly standard and safe...
As far as the acting goes, Jamie Foxx does a tremendous job becoming Ray Charles. As far as I was concerned he was Ray Charles during the movie. It wasn't until the final scenes that I realized "oh yeah...this is Jamie Foxx"
Sometimes within a single scene there could be terrible acting followed by something really great. Example (SPOILER): When Margie tells Ray "I'm Pregnant", her delivery is really awful, and I almost laughed. Right after that, though, when they start to write "hit the road jack" she really takes it to another level. (END)
Whoever casted the kid who played the little Ray casted one of the worst child actors I've ever seen.
All the musical sequences were great. I was more interested in them than the story sometimes. They're worth watching the movie for.
p.s. Did anyone else get annoyed by all the swipes and iris transitions? They really annoyed me.
Quote from: Pedro the AlpacaWhoever casted the kid who played the little Ray casted one of the worst child actors I've ever seen.
haha move over Dixon..
I finally saw this and it was what I feared it would be: a great performance backed by a less than great film. I don't mind biopics...as long as they try and tell the story. It doesn't necessarily have to be original or extremely innovative, just as long as it cares about telling the story and tells it to the best ability of the filmmakers. Unfortunately, I don't feel this film did that at all.
[Light Spoilers]
I really wanted to like this film more because Foxx is so good but I just couldn't. The whole film felt like a greatest hits of songs and moments from the life and musical history of Ray Charles. It seemed like this movie was so proud of the fact that it was a movie about Ray Charles that it wouldn't actually get inside Ray Charles, show us his world and why he did what he did and what made him great. The way the film presented Ray's music, it felt so isolated, as if he had affairs, did drugs, was discriminated against at different points and by different people, lied to his wife, neglected his family and had been blind since the age of seven, but these things had no bearing on the songs he wrote or how he wrote them. Because Ray was a musician, I wanted to see more of a connection. Instead, the film simply tells us to accept his music as "brilliant" and "groundbreaking" instead of giving us much context as to why it was. Not to mention the movie seems to go along and then realizes it has run out of time and needs to wrap things up with the "and he continued to produce music for 40 more years." Oh, did he? I don't mind a film being anticlimactic, but that's ridiculous!
So, that isn't to take away from Foxx's performance. I felt he completely embodied Ray, and even if the screenplay didn't understand or tell us what it should have, it semed that Foxx understood and added it all to part of his performance. Underneath the whole "impersonation" of Ray's body movements and vocal inflections there is an undercurrent of subtlty and nuance in the way Foxx builds this character who happens to also be a famous icon. Granted, he may not be recieving as much praise for the performance had Ray not been an iconic figure, but he was and Jamie got the role of a lifetime and made it into something great.
Thumbs up for Foxx; thumbs down for Hackford and his film.
this is this year's monster.
in other words, i will be glad when the fad is over.
After watching this film I'm a bit confused as to wether I don't like Ray Charles or the film. I think they portraid him as a peverted selfish prick and the only reason the viewer sympatizes with him is because he is blind. People are just so used to automatically sympatize with a character if he is handicapped (that is in american litteratur and film) - We all know that Ray was a genius and blind but that doesn't make us like him. Maybe this is the film or maybe this is just Ray Charles. The film also reminded me to much of a tv-drama from Hallmark...maybe that's a good thing.
I must say, that farce at the end (the mother thing) was one of the most awful, ridiculous things I've ever seen. I can't begin to describe my horror when that unfolded. It took the flick from average-tv-movie-of-the-week to complete train-wreck. Way to ruin a flick, Hackford.
All I took from the movie was some relief that Curtis Armstrong isn't dead or homeless.
And P: right on.
Quote from: Weak2ndActWay to ruin a flick, Hackford.
It makes the name almost fitting, doesn't it?
Yeah, that "final meeting" in his mind was a pretty bad way to wrap everything up.
Quote from: Weak2ndActI must say, that farce at the end (the mother thing) was one of the most awful, ridiculous things I've ever seen. I can't begin to describe my horror when that unfolded. It took the flick from average-tv-movie-of-the-week to complete train-wreck.
You took the words right out of my mouth.
Thank you for posting that.
Quote from: StefenI went to go rent this but the racist video store was all out of copies.
:bravo:
the footage of ray grilling mr foxx, and his sheer enjoyment/delight when foxx gets it right is so good to watch. i could have done without 2091830 minutes of jamie explaining his craft, 20920830 minutes would have gotten the point across. stay away from stefen's store which has 10 copies of powder for some reason.
Quote from: GhostboyI saw it the other night and it falls in the 'really good biopic that's still just a biopic' category. The performances are stellar, of course, and the music rocks. Jamie Foxx is great and will most likely win an Oscar (although there are certainly better male performances this year, including, perhaps, his own in Collateral). There were a few scenes where you could tell it was the real Ray Charles' voice coming out of his mouth, but those musical scenes are so fantastically executed that it doesn't really matter, and he's really playing the piano and that's impressive all by itself. The supporting cast was also really good, and Warwick Davis got a good chance to shine.
yeah. had not much interest in this but watched it tonight before foxx picks up his oscar. the rehab scenes seemed like they were out of some other movie and seemed funny. but the rest of it was good.
Quote from: themodernage02but the rest of it was good.
the rest of the movie? Really?
I just watched this and I'm amazed at how this could have been nominated for Best Picture. I understand that the story of it is touching and that Ray died during it's making and that makes people think movies are better than they are, but usually when a movie is being nominated because of the circumstances around it, the movie is at least KIND OF good!
This was bad!
This was like someone took a good documentary on Ray Charles and made some shitty movie of the week for television.
There was nothing keeping this film together (other than the music, but fuck, I've been listening to this music my whole life, why do I need to see a movie to hear it now?).
I spent the first three quarters of the film picking out furniture I like from it and the last quarter just laughing.
I just saw this and it was raytarded
Quote from: SleuthI just saw this and it was raytarded
ahahahaha.....
that should eb on the marquee
It really should be on the marquee. As for the film, I have this to say: I laughed at the end as well, and it's a great biopic with a lot to offer but the transitions seemed stilted to me.