Ray Charles - The Genius Of Soul DVD

Advantages: Stunning music score and an unmatchable performance from Jamie Foxx
Disadvantages: Lacks substance, heart and brevity.

...There are very few great bio-pic’s of our late great iconic musical genius’s. Oliver Stone’s ‘The Doors’ being the only one I can say allows repeated watching, was directors Taylor Hackford’s "Ray" to be another? Sadly not. Set for the most part during Charles' formative years between 1948 and 1965, Hackford (previous work includes the appalling ‘Proof of Life’) and screenwriter James L. White, working on his first project, display the ‘highlights’ of Charles’ rise to stardom. The film avoids at almost every turn to make it any event seem personal or even genuine, this is not to say, "Ray" avoids the unpleasant aspects of this mans life, there is the death of a sibling, drug abuse, the many affairs and the build up to Charles’ blindness. Even with all these fundamentals, which, are aspects of Charles' life, they are played out like... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Really innovative. One of the best reenactment of a legend
Disadvantages: Some unneccesary Inclusion.

...going until he became member of bands, co-founded bands, and graduated to found his own band. He trained himself, he knew he had to if he wanted to become somebody in life, he developed a love for music and musical instruments, he created a rare talent for music, training his ear and his fingers to master his love. Ray played various musical instruments, including some of the most complicated ones, he dished out songs upon songs that were hits which made him popular. Yet, he was blind. He truly is a legend. Ray Charles..... The movie...... despite the superfluous manner by which a few actual incidents were acted, ( such as the insinuation that the accidental drawning of Charles younger brother was the cause of all the inner demons that He would battle into adulthood), the film did a great job in summarizing Charles' genius as a musical... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Great biopic of the great man Ray Charles
Disadvantages: a litlle long, could have been trimmed down a little

...This film is a biography about the life and times of Ray Charles. The film holds nothing back and I believe it to be a very accurate portrayal of the man himself, Ray Charles. The film begins with Ray waiting at a bus stop in the middle of nowhere, it is right here that you start to feel the overtones of the film, Ray was a blind man and he was black. Jamie Foxx is an absolute genius never once in the film did I think that "oh that is Jamie Foxx look at the way he does that...etc". It was as if I was watching Ray Charles himself in person. I was riveted to my seat for the entire length of the film. The film holds nothing back telling the real truths about Ray Charles. His struggle with heroin addiction. The film portrays, in the form of flashbacks, his early childhood and the death of his brother from which he feels a profound sense... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful