Saturday, March 19, 2005
"Ray"
This is a really, REALLY good film, one of the best biographical movies I have seen, and perhaps unlucky not to win Best Film and Best Direction honours at the recent Academy Awards.
Like many, my first reaction regarding Jamie Foxx's selection for the Best Actor Oscar was "Oh well, looks like embarrassed Hollywood's playing PC catch-up" - but this is way off the mark: Foxx is incredible.
I don't know what Ray Charles was really like, having been born as he was approaching his career peak. Whatever the reality, Foxx pulls off a winning caricature, within a rollicking screenplay.
The film is long but never boring. The story stays close to historical truth and yet, surprisingly, stays captivating.
You see the stories behind some of the Charles songs. They are of the warts-and-all rather than whitewashed variety. Which makes them all the more fetching.
Just like - significantly - the portrayal of Charles' best known contribution to the Civil Rights movement. I won't spoil the details for those who haven't seen the flick, save to say that I was touched by the completely believable and human Ray Charles in this context.
What a distinguished, and memorable, surprise that is.
Of course, different people will assess the film differently. Mrs S gave "Ray" a 7/10, while I gave it an 8/10. Hard to imagine someone not liking it though.
