Ahoy, squirts! Quint here with yet another glowing review praising Jamie Foxx's titular performance in the upcoming RAY. I'm really damn excited to see this movie and it seem slike Foxx is a shoe-in for that Best Actor Oscar. Who knew? Back in the IN LIVING COLOR days I never woulda pegged Foxx and Jim Carrey to be Academy Award nominees, but with Foxx's turn in ALI, COLLATERAL and now RAY, it seems he's really forced through any preconceived notions. Anyway, here's the review!
Hi Harry,
Valmont here. I just got out of a screening of the Ray Charles biopic RAY and thought I'd jot down a few thoughts for the folks at Aintitcool.
I had been looking forward to seeing this film for a while. I'm a fan of Ray's music, and I think Foxx is a great, underrated actor. Anyone who saw him go toe-to-toe with Pacino in ANY GIVEN SUNDAY knows what I mean.
RAY is a very good movie. Foxx, however, is not merely great in the film--he is phenomenal. It's safe to say that Foxx's performance will be a revelation for many people. I had high hopes for him after seeing the trailer, and he far exceeded my expectations. It doesn't hurt any that Foxx is an accomplished pianist--his playing is more than convincing and there is no need to do any awkward cuts or camera angles to disguise his piano skills. The thing that I couldn't get past was just how much Foxx looked like Ray during those performances. Many times throughout the film, I forgot that I wasn't watching the real Ray Charles (most of those times were during music performances). But for those of you who fear that Foxx merely slips into a Ray Charles impression, be assured that Foxx's charisma and humour really shine in this film. It's this effervescent personality that keeps us liking Ray as he battles his demons, shuns! friends, and slips further and further into a drug-addled stupor.
Foxx isn't the only actor that impresses in the film. Kerry Washington turns in a solid performance as Ray's wife, making the most out of a role that lacks a lot of depth. I expect that we'll see a lot more of her in the near future. Regina King, another sorely underrated actor, also does a lot with a little, making Ray's mistress more than just a cliche. And Larenz Tate's too-brief appearances as a young Quincy Jones are spot-on perfect.
The film itself doesn't do much to surprise us; it's basically set up like your standard biopic. Ray's childhood is shown in flashback, which I felt was a wise decision as it allowed the audience to see how his mother influenced his way of life. Still, the movie has all the predictable biopic formulas: adversity, fate leading to success, a downfall, and then redemption. Unfortunately, there's so much ground to cover that some stories (like whether or not Ray's manager/friend was stealing from him) get short shrift, and the last 40 years of Ray's life are pretty much glossed over completely by title cards.
The film would actually feel a bit slow if it weren't for the music. Ray Charles's songs are infectious, and they lend the film a lot of energy that it might otherwise lack. And while the story and direction of the film might feel obvious, the use of music was a bit more inspired. The best scene of the film comes when Ray plays "Hit The Road Jack" for the first time. The audience actually applauded. There were lots of instances where the songs were used in humourous or inventive ways, and it helped move the film along nicely.
Overall, I think RAY is quite entertaining, but Foxx elevates the material to spellbinding. His performance is riveting--you truly can't stop watching him. Those who felt (like I did) that Foxx was the true force in COLLATERAL will be immensely satisfied seeing his range here. He's going to be huge--Denzel huge.
