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	Ray
	Taylor Hackford Jamie Foxx, Kerry Washington, Regina King, Clifton Powell, Harry Lennix, Bokeem Woodbine, Aunjanue Ellis, Sharon Warren, C.J. Sanders, Curtis Armstrong, Richard Schiff, Larenz Tate, David Krumholtz 2004		Ray Charles, the Genius of Soul, gets the full-tilt movie-biography treatment with "Ray," a saga of trauma, trial and triumph. Director Taylor Hackford lovingly and sometimes brutally recaps the tragedy-tinged but ultimately inspirational life of the acclaimed African-American singer, pianist and showman. Charles overcame poverty, racial prejudice, drug addiction and blindness to attain global success with an unprecedented blend of blues, jazz, gospel and country music. If the telling and dialogue are too by-the-book, Jamie Foxx's utterly convincing evocation of the barrier-busting Charles provides an intimate look at a legend and always comes off like the real deal. It's a genuine breakthrough for Foxx, whose dramatic turn opposite Tom Cruise in the thriller "Collateral" garnered favorable notice and whose earliest renown came when he was a cast member on the TV comedy show "In Living Color." Foxx is paired with Kerry Washington as Ray's steadfast wife Della Bea, and their scenes together are a joy to behold. Regina King also stands out as a back-up singer who became the star's mistress. First-rate supporting actors, including Clifton Powell, Harry Lennix, Bokeem Woodbine, Sharon Warren, Curtis Armstrong, Richard Schiff and Larenz Tate, portray other significant people in Charles' world. With its soundtrack of his timeless, beloved hits such as "What'd I Say," "Ray" does the master proud.


	Friday, April 19, 2024





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