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Matt Steindl · From: New Orleans, LA, USA

Finally got to see "Ray" last night, and I was so impressed. J. Fox was so convincing, and it was very inspirational that this guy had everything goin against him....black(in that era)...blind....junkie..........and he still rose above it w/ great writing and performance.

Great flick!!!!!!!!

[This message was edited by Matt Steindl on 07 February 2005 at 05:40 PM.]

Donna Dodd · From: Acworth, Georgia, USA

I agree, Matt! Absolutely awesome acting!!

Brett Day · From: Pickens, SC

The movie "Ray" was really awesome. Jamie Fox was awesome in that movie. I loved the music too. It's amazing to know that even though Ray was blind, he could play piano and sing. My favorite scene in the movie is when a country band is backing Ray and there's a nonpedal steel in the band. Brett, Emmons S-10, Morrell lapsteel, GFI Ultra D-10

Andy Greatrix · From: Edmonton Alberta

I saw the movie, as soon as it came out.
It's an awesome performance!
I just got the DVD today as an early birthday present.
I heartily recommend this movie.

Orville Johnson · From: Seattle, Washington, USA

i just saw the movie too. as a movie, i thought it was a pretty cheesy, typical biopic with way too many "ray's firing up and the phone rings", "ray's firing up and there's a knock on the door" scenes and the newspaper headlines marking the time passing and such. but, having said that, jaime foxx was amazing. he became ray charles! and it was much more than an imitation, i thought he really conveyed his essence. the music was all beautifully done (of course! ray sang all the tunes!). totally worth seeing just for foxx's performance.

Leslie Ehrlich · From: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

What really bugs me is when some people refer to James Brown as 'the godfather of soul'. Ray Charles was the man! I've yet to see the movie 'Ray'. It should be a good one.

Steve Pacholl · From: Minneapolis

I saw Ray this weekend at the $2 theater. Best $2 spent in a long time.

As much as I liked the film I would have liked to have seen more into the insight of Ray's musical growth rather than so much on Ray's drug addiction. But then that would be a boring story for the masses. Nothing much was said about how/where Ray obtained his musical talents. Of course Ray was a musicial genius, but he had to pick things up somewhere.

There was the short scene as a kid when the old man gives him a short lesson. Nothing much was said about Ray and what he learned while at the blind school.

Also, there was the big gap from when he was a child to when he hit Seatle and runs in to Quincy Jones and they are obviously old friends - well, how did Ray come to know Q at such an early point of his career?

Andy Greatrix · From: Edmonton Alberta

Also, nothing was was ever mentioned about his alto sax playing, which was "Bird" influenced , and quite good.

CrowBear Schmitt · From: Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France

this flick has'nt arrived here yet
i'm sure gonna wanna see it

i bet Ray & Quincy hooked up in Paris

anyone heard Ray's version of "Imagine" ?
it's a good one

Tim Harr · From: Dunlap, Illinois

I wholeheartedly agree!

The movie was awesome. Foxx actually wore prosthetic contacts to 'make' him blind.

Also he watched many consectutive hours of recent DVD footage taken of Ray's hands (while playing) ONLY.

Remember, Ray was alive for a majority of the production of this awesome motion picture!

Truly amazing!

Tim

Roger Rettig · From: Naples, FL

I thought 'Ray' was the best musical biography ever filmed. I, too, have it on DVD, but can't get home to watch it until this tour ends in March.....

It's impossible for a two hour film to cover it all - there'll always be some concession to marketability, but I thought, too, that Jamie Foxx 'became' Ray Charles. After ten minutes or so, I'd forgotten this was an actor playing a role.

For those needing more insight than the film provides, check out Michael Lydon's excellent biograhy, "Ray Charles - Man and Music". I re-read my copy after seeing the film, and it was an affirmation of the film's integrity. It was eerily close!

"Brother Ray" (the only other Charles biography) has now been updated, and is also well-worth reading.

Roger Rettig

Alan Pagliere · From: Ann Arbor, MI, USA

The movie had its cheesy moments but the story was worth telling, even if told badly. There were two very good actors though that held it together. Jamie Foxx of course and the woman who played his young mother, Sharon Warren I think.

I knew Jamie Foxx was talented back when he was on "In Living Color" (a show I wish they would replay on TV. Reminded me of Laugh-In in its not shrinking from hitting some very timely and topical issues head on. Not much guts available on TV like that.). But I digress. Foxx was clearly talented then, but has come further and has truly come into his own as an actor.

Orville Johnson · From: Seattle, Washington, USA

i agree, alan, about foxx coming into his own. he gave another great performance this past year in "collateral".

JERRY THURMOND · From: sullivan mo u.s.a.

I liked it also, mabe there will be another movie made with the rest of the story.

Bruce Clarke · From: Spain

Steve, the answers to your questions, and many more, are to be found in Ray Charles Autobiography "Brother Ray" which was published in 1978.He recorded it to tape over many months, and it really is his own story.

Roger Rettig · From: Naples, FL

It's interesting that "Brother Ray" caused more than a little friction in the Charles camp. It's certainly true that Ray dictated a lot of it, and it had his approval. Joe Adams (Ray's manager and 'buffer' between RC and the band members) was piqued to see just a fleeting reference to his contribution - 'I work for him for twenty five years, and I only rate a single mention?!'. Joe Adams was accurately portrayed in the film as a man with scant regard for the musicians' feelings!

I'd still commend the Michael Lydon book - Ray didn't get to 'edit' that book in the same way as he did the earlier work. I still think both are essential reading.

RR

Dayna Wills · From: Sacramento, CA (deceased)

Leslie,
I believe that Ray was called the "Genius" of Soul.

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