Fuerza Gigante - Ray Barretto

Ray DVD - It's a shame about Ray

Advantages: Well acted, great music
Disadvantages: Too long

"If you want to do something to make your mama proud, promise me. Promise me you won't let nobody turn you into no cripple, you won't become no charity case, and you'll stand on your own two feet." Confession: Before watching "Ray", my total knowledge of the life of Ray Charles amounted to sub-"back off a fag packet" levels. He was a blind, American performer who apparently had Georgia on his mind. As a lover of a wide variety of music, this was a situation I set about resolving by renting "Ray", a biopic directed by Taylor Hackford and released in 2005. And do I know much about him after the movie? Well, to be honest, given the length of the film, I feel like I've lived my life with him. It is, it must be said, a painfully long film. That said, it does give you a real insight into his life, his career, his pain and suffering ...

stevek181 24.11.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Ray (DVD)

Ray Charles on my mind

Advantages: Superb performance by Jamie Foxx
Disadvantages: Long and dull at times

Born Ray Charles Robinson in 1930 in a poor part of Georgia, the singer and pianist we know simply as Ray Charles did not have the easiest of starts in life. Cared for by his single mother, he witnessed the drowning of his brother at a young age, and by seven, was blind in both eyes. Despite this, his mother entreated him to keep working and to never let his disability get the better of him. His drive and enthusiasm for life was soon to pay dividends in the form of a successful music career, with hits in the charts and a lucrative record contract. Yet his life was not all roses - addicted to heroin, Ray was nearly imprisoned more than once and had extra-marital affairs. Would heroin be the end of his family life? And how would it affect his musical career? I am not a big fan of biopics; the problem with the story of someone's life ...

sunmeilan 21.05.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Ray (DVD)

Ray is on my mind

Advantages: Brilliant music
Disadvantages: None

The Storyline ----------------- This is the story of legendary soul singer Ray Charles (Jamie Foxx), famed for songs such as "Georgia". Born into poor circumstances, Ray lost his sight at the age of 7 after the death of his brother. With the help of his mother, Ray learnt how to survive in the world, and instilled into him the determination that would guide him through his life. As time moves on, Ray uses all his skills and determination to over come both racism and prejudices against the blind. He finally achieves all of this by becoming a famous musician and singer. But as he grew more and more famous, so did his vices, which nearly stripped him of everything he worked to achieve. I'm not going to go into anymore detail than this, as if like me you didn't know the details of Rays life, you will be in for a few surprises and I ...

christianfilmcritic 26.01.2006 (28.01.2006) · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Ray (DVD)