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Goddessatlaw
Member
07-19-2002
| Friday, October 29, 2004 - 8:14 pm
Oh, man - is this movie ever good!!! Jamie Foxx is an absolute miracle as Ray Charles - from the minute the movie starts, you have a complete suspension of disbelief. You really think it's Ray Charles. I've never seen an actor capture such a familiar figure, much less such a mannered one, with such accuracy - and absolutely no moments where he seems a characature. The music is spectacular, the supporting cast is marvelous. It covers roughly the first 40 years of Charles' life or so - to the point where he finally kicks his addictions. And there's plenty of it that's not pretty - it seems he was not a very nice man. But I understand Charles approved and signed off on every bit of this portrayal before he died - he wanted an honest depiction of who he was. I strongly recommend this movie - it's one of the few times I can remember when an audience broke into spontaneous applause when a movie ended - and it wasn't because they were glad it was over. It's long, about 2 hours and 45 minutes, but there's really nothing they could cut with the way this story was told and the ground it covered. I'll be anxious to hear what everyone else thinks. Jamie Foxx, whom I've always loved anyway, may very well win an Oscar for this portrayal.
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Egbok
Member
07-13-2000
| Friday, October 29, 2004 - 10:18 pm
Thanks for the critique GAL!! I am SO looking forward to seeing this movie! In fact..LOL, I'm listening to a Ray Charles CD right now...is that karma or what??!! As for Jamie Foxx....I've had my eye on this fine young actor for quite some time and I hear this performance is indeed Oscar quality. Go Jamie!!
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Escapee
Member
06-15-2004
| Monday, November 01, 2004 - 1:59 pm
I am trying to talk DH into seeing this. He's a stickler for war movies, cop movies and things of High action. Should I go with a girlfriend instead?
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Goddessatlaw
Member
07-19-2002
| Monday, November 01, 2004 - 6:43 pm
Escapee, I would say yes if your DH is into action films - this movie is like 2 hours and 45 minutes long, and it doesn't seem any shorter because it's so good. There's just alot of ground covered in it and you don't mind the length. I'd take a girlfriend or you might have a restless DH beside you making the experience less enjoyable. Hope you love it too!!
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Yankee_in_ca
Member
08-01-2000
| Monday, November 01, 2004 - 8:34 pm
Mi madre and I will go to see this tomorrow. Can't wait.
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Essence
Member
01-12-2002
| Tuesday, November 02, 2004 - 4:52 am
I have to agree with everything GAL says about this movie. It was wonderful. I kept hearing how great of a job Jamie Foxx did, but you just have to see it. Now I understand all the Oscar talk. I was supposed to go see it with friends, but I couldn't wait for them... I went by myself. I'm glad I didn't wait.
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Jan
Member
08-01-2000
| Tuesday, November 02, 2004 - 8:49 am
I went to see it last night and I LOVED IT! It is a wonderful movie. I agree with everything GAL said. My friend, who wasn't sold on going, came out of the movie and said "OK give him the oscar!" When the movie ended (which is just after he kicks drugs so in the 70's) I was shocked. I wanted it to keep going and tell me the rst of his life. In the movie we see the wife, Della, the three legit sons with her and we hear about one illegitimate son but that's it for kids. I was really curious as I had read in a CNN article that when he died he left behind 12 kids!! As far as I can glean from the internet though, only three were with his wife. And the CNN article also mentioned that he was divorced when he died.
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Yankee_in_ca
Member
08-01-2000
| Tuesday, November 02, 2004 - 5:51 pm
OK, I saw this this afternoon. I agree with everything GAL said. It was fantastic. I loved it. I even got teary-eyed!
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Ketchuplover
Member
08-30-2000
| Friday, November 12, 2004 - 11:16 pm
Loved it too 
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Ladytex
Member
09-27-2001
| Saturday, November 13, 2004 - 10:20 am
This movie was absolutely awesome! I loved it! Jamie Foxx did an incredible job, I'm so proud of him!
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Pamy
Member
01-02-2002
| Saturday, November 13, 2004 - 11:54 am
The day this was released a guy at my DH work had a pirated dvd of it, it made me sad that it prolly won't make as much money as it could have if these damn pirates weren't in business. I refuse to watch pirated dvd's.
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Juju2bigdog
Member
10-27-2000
| Saturday, November 13, 2004 - 5:07 pm
Friend was at my house today and spontaneously recommended this movie. Will make sure I see it this winter.
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Babyruth
Member
07-19-2001
| Saturday, November 13, 2004 - 7:48 pm
Saw this tonite, and I agree with everything GAL said. A MUST SEE movie. Jamie Foxx is amazing. Jan, at the end of the credits, it said Ray left behind 12 children, 21 granchildren, and (I forget how many) great- great grandchildren. Needless to say, it left me wondering about the stories of all these other offspring, too!
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Melfie1222
Member
07-29-2002
| Sunday, November 14, 2004 - 7:44 pm
Loved it! The lady sitting next to me must have been a big fan... a few scenes, when the onscreen audience started clapping she did too, and she sang along with some of the songs. She had the aisle seat and I thought she was about to get up and start dancing . The music was great. I should have brought kleenex for those scenes of Ray with his mom and brother.
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Rslover
Member
11-19-2002
| Sunday, January 16, 2005 - 3:53 pm
Excellent movie. Jamie really had a great year and has proven to be a great dramatic actor with this and Collateral. Ray Charles married Eileen Williams four years before Della and had a child. They left that out of the movie. Here's some interesting trivia: Ray Charles died of liver failure on 10 June 2004, after filming had ended. Jamie Foxx had to wear eye prosthetics that really did make him blind for up to 14 hours a day during shooting. Jamie Foxx played the piano in all scenes himself. Jamie Foxx studied Ray Charles to better mimic him. After a few weeks he stopped visiting Ray saying that a 73-year-old Ray Charles couldn't help him in portraying a 19-year-old Ray Charles. At his request, the screenplay was translated into Braille for Ray Charles to read. No studio was interested in backing the film. The film was then shot independently and once it was completed, Universal stepped in to distribute it. Part of the reason Universal released it was because one of the executives of the studio used to hitchhike to Hollywood to watch Ray Charles concerts. Director Taylor Hackford secured the rights to Ray Charles's life story in 1987 but couldn't find a studio to finance the film.
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Egbok
Member
07-13-2000
| Sunday, January 16, 2005 - 4:53 pm
I saw this film yesterday and I loved it too! Jamie Foxx was indeed Mr. Ray Charles Robinson. I am a big Ray Charles fan anyway and so seeing his life story on the big screen was an added plus for me. I love his music!!
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Juju2bigdog
Member
10-27-2000
| Sunday, January 16, 2005 - 7:47 pm
Saw it last Thursday at the dollar theater in Harlingen, TX, last day it was showing in the entire area, although it will be back at the regular theaters after the Golden Globe and Oscar nominations, I am sure. I can see it as a nomination for Best Picture and Best Actor. I can see Jamie Fox winning for Best Actor. He absolutely WAS Ray Charles. I kept having to remind myself it was an actor playing a part. I did not know Ray Charles had taken a civil rights stance in Georgia in 1961, and that was within my lifetime. I feel like I should have been more aware at the time, but I was just a kid.
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Mocha
Member
08-12-2001
| Tuesday, January 18, 2005 - 9:45 am
This was a great movie and Jamie did a great job as Ray Charles. I laughed and I cried and I've seen it about 3 times so far.
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Jen
Member
07-27-2003
| Saturday, January 29, 2005 - 2:21 pm
Finally saw this movie today. It was fantastic! Jamie Foxx was amazing and definitely deserves the win. Awesome movie!
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Legalboxer
Member
11-17-2003
| Sunday, March 27, 2005 - 12:00 pm
just watched it - and definitely one of the best biopics ever - Jaime was a master - as they all were. It took me half the movie to finally realize Jerry was Toby from West Wing. Music and story couldnt have been better - and you cat get more honest and human.
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Herckleperckle
Member
11-20-2003
| Sunday, March 27, 2005 - 12:03 pm
I finally saw Ray last night on Pay Per View/Cable. Both my dh and I were absolutely riveted. Jamie Foxx was truly astonishing in his portrayal of Ray Charles. I can't say enough about how complete the transformation was. I also have to say that the fabulous music, the perfection of the supporting actors and the realistic dance scenes completed the illusion and made me very sorry that I had missed seeing the film on the big screen. But what was most mind-blowing to me was the virtually no-holds barred integrity of the screenplay. I never felt manipulated by the story . . . that is, until the very end, when the 'acting' portion of the movie was over. The close of the movie was an attempt to wrap up the rest of Ray Charles' life with printed copy. I hated how that was handled and felt it took away from the film. It was the only flaw, though.
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Lake_gal
Member
06-09-2004
| Friday, April 01, 2005 - 3:10 pm
I thought Jamie Foxx was excellent in the movie and I liked it. But I did think it was a bit too long. I think it could have been told with a few less scenes. But that is just my opinion.
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Tashakinz
Member
11-13-2002
| Sunday, April 10, 2005 - 2:38 pm
Finally got this from Netflix this weekend. What a great performance by Jamie Foxx. The movie was a little long, but at the same time I was left wanting more of the story.
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Rosie
Member
11-12-2003
| Wednesday, June 08, 2005 - 7:51 pm
It was nice to hear his music again. Jamie did an excellent job of becoming Ray. I thought it was on the long side.
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Sillycalimomma
Member
11-13-2003
| Saturday, August 13, 2005 - 5:54 pm
Wow. Finally got around to watching this one and for once I wasn't all antsy and wishing I was doing something else. Jamie Foxx did a great job. He deserved all the praise he got for that role. And the music kept me going througout. Loved it!
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