Ray (2004/I)

User Rating:

7.8/10   

Director:

Taylor Hackford

Writers (WGA):

Taylor Hackford (story) and
James L. White (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

29 October 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Music

Tagline:

The extraordinary life story of Ray Charles. A man who fought harder and went farther than anyone thought possible.

Plot:

The life and career of the legendary popular music pianist, Ray Charles.

Plot Keywords:

Ray Charles | 1960s | Racism | Drugs | Singer

Awards:

Won 2 Oscars. Another 38 wins & 37 nominations

Cast

Jamie Foxx	...	Ray Charles
Kerry Washington	...	Della Bea Robinson
Regina King	...	Margie Hendricks
Clifton Powell	...	Jeff Brown
Harry Lennix	...	Joe Adams
Bokeem Woodbine	...	Fathead Newman
Aunjanue Ellis	...	Mary Ann Fisher
Sharon Warren	...	Aretha Robinson
C.J. Sanders	...	Young Ray Robinson
Curtis Armstrong	...	Ahmet Ertegun
Richard Schiff	...	Jerry Wexler
Larenz Tate	...	Quincy Jones
Terrence Howard	...	Gossie McGee (as Terrence Dashon Howard)
David Krumholtz	...	Milt Shaw
Wendell Pierce	...	Wilbur Brassfield
Chris Thomas King	...	Lowell Fulson
Thomas Jefferson Byrd	...	Jimmy
Rick Gomez	...	Tom Dowd
Denise Dowse	...	Marlene
Warwick Davis	...	Oberon
Patrick Bauchau	...	Dr. Hacker
Robert Wisdom	...	Jack Lauderdale
Kurt Fuller	...	Sam Clark
Julian Bond	...	Himself
Kimberly J. Ardison	...	Ethel McRae (as Kimberly Ardison)
Renee Wilson	...	Pat Lyle
Willie Metcalf	...	Mr. Pitt
Mike Pniewski	...	Bus Driver
Terrone Bell	...	Young George Robinson
Richard A. Smith	...	Til
Gary Grubbs	...	Billy Ray
Carol Sutton	...	Eula
Bill Breaux	...	Cop #1
Alex Van	...	Cop #2
Roland Bob Harris	...	Jesse Stone (as Roland 'Bob' Harris)
Tom Clark	...	Alan Freed
Afemo Omilami	...	Angry Husband
Elizabeth Omilami	...	Angry Wife (as Elisabeth Omilami)
Vernel Bagneris	...	Dancin' Al (as Vernel Bagnaris)
Fahnlohnee R. Harris	...	Trudy Daniels (as Fahnlohnee Harris)
Michael Travis Stone	...	Robert
Eric O'Neal Jr.	...	Ray Charles Jr., 5-6 yrs.
Tequan Richmond	...	Ray Charles Jr., 9-10 yrs.
Matthew Benjamin	...	Musician in Billy Ray's
John Swasey	...	Customs Agent #1
James Huston	...	Customs Agent #2
Marc Lynn	...	Downbeat Reporter
Kyle Scott Jackson	...	King Bee
J. Todd Smith	...	Student Reporter (as Todd J. Smith)
Rutherford Cravens	...	White Promoter (as Rutherford 'Rudy' Cravens)
Darnell Williams	...	Fast Girl
Jedda Jones	...	Mercedes
Jeff Galpin	...	Cop #3 (as Jeffrey Galpin)
Michael Arata	...	Cop #4
Estella Denson	...	Lady in Rain
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Edward Anderson	...	Ray's Band - 2nd Trumpet
Alonzo Bowens	...	Ray's Band - Alto Saxophone
Clarence Johnson	...	Ray's Band - Baritone Saxophone
Herman LeBeaux	...	Ray's Band - Drums
Edwin Livingston	...	Ray's Band - Bass
Johnny O'Neill	...	Art Tatum
Jamil Sharif	...	Ray's Band - 1st Trumpet
Ray Charles	...	Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
James J. Duhon	...	Protester (uncredited)
Ross Durocher	...	Bus Passenger (uncredited)
Tobi Gadison	...	Paul the Trumpet Player (uncredited)
Larry Gamell Jr.	...	Bouncer (uncredited)
Justin Groetsch	...	Fan (uncredited)
Gene Kevin Hames Jr.	...	Legislator (uncredited)
Trae Ireland	...	Neighbor (uncredited)
Summer LeAnn	...	Beach Dancer (uncredited)
Murphy Martin	...	Fan (uncredited)
Darlene Moore	...	Airline Stewardess (uncredited)
Ben Pronsky	...	Southern Marine (uncredited)
Carlos Rivero	...	Custom Agent (uncredited)
Sonny Shroyer	...	Governor Jimmie Davis (uncredited)
Curt Sobel	...	Conductor (uncredited)
Tommy Sobel	...	Sam Clark's Assistant (uncredited)
Travis Willingham	...	Northern Marine (uncredited)

Directed by
Taylor Hackford

Writing credits (WGA)
Taylor Hackford		(story) and
James L. White		(story)
James L. White		(screenplay)

Produced by
Howard Baldwin	....	producer
Karen Elise Baldwin	....	producer
Alise Benjamin	....	co-producer
Stuart Benjamin	....	producer
Taylor Hackford	....	producer
Barbara A. Hall	....	line producer
William J. Immerman	....	executive producer
Jaime Rucker King	....	executive producer
Nick Morton	....	co-producer
Ray Robinson Charles Jr.	....	co-producer (as Ray Charles Robinson Jr.)
Vicki Dee Rock	....	producer in charge of production

Original Music by
Craig Armstrong

Cinematography by
Pawel Edelman

Film Editing by
Paul Hirsch

Casting by
Nancy Klopper

Production Design by
Stephen Altman

Art Direction by
John Bucklin		(supervising art director) (as John E. Bucklin)
Scott Plauche

Set Decoration by
Maria Nay

Costume Design by
Sharen Davis

Makeup Department
Brian Badie	....	hair stylist
Howard Berger	....	special makeup effects supervisor
Dana Boisseau	....	additional hair stylist
Stacye P. Branche	....	head makeup artist (as Stacye Branche)
Albert Brown	....	additional hair stylist
Rebecca DeHerrera	....	additional makeup artist
Deidra Dixon	....	hair stylist
Holly Frey	....	additional makeup artist
Camille Friend	....	key hair stylist
Betty Hamnac	....	additional hair stylist (as Bettey Hammac)
Stacy Kelly	....	additional makeup artist (as Stacey Kelly)
Louis Kiss	....	special makeup effects artist
Lisa Layman	....	additional makeup artist (as Lisa Lehman)
LaLette Littlejohn	....	key makeup artist
Paul Anthony Morris	....	hair stylist (as Paul Anthony-Morris)
Gregory Nicotero	....	special makeup effects supervisor (as Greg Nicotero)
Joan Ozment	....	additional makeup artist
LeDiedra Richard-Baldwin	....	additional makeup artist
Kathleen Sandoval	....	makeup artist
Donna Spahn	....	additional hair stylist
Susan Spaid	....	additional makeup artist (as Susan Spade)
JoAnn Stafford-Chaney	....	head hair stylist
Habiba White	....	additional hair stylist

Production Management
John Burrows	....	unit production manager
Barbara A. Hall	....	unit production manager
Lisa Dennis Kennedy	....	post-production supervisor
Yvonne Yaconelli	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jason Altieri	....	additional second assistant director
George Bott	....	second assistant director: second unit
Jerry Grandey	....	first assistant director
Steve Lonano	....	additional key second assistant director (as Stephen LoNano)
Raymond Prado	....	second unit director (as Raymond G. Prado)
James Roque	....	second second assistant director (as James Roque Jr.)
Ann C. Salzer	....	first assistant director: second unit
Eric Steven Stahl	....	first assistant director
Darrell Woodard	....	additional first assistant director
Darrell Woodard	....	second assistant director
Jimi Woods	....	second assistant director: second unit

Art Department
Dale E. Anderson	....	leadman (as Dale Anderson)
Michael Arena	....	set dresser
Stuart Auld	....	paint gang boss: New Orleans
Scott Bauer	....	assistant property master
Jason Bedig	....	leadman
Paul Blanchard	....	set dresser
Aneikit Bonnel	....	set dresser
Marc Bouffard	....	toolman: New Orleans
Peter Allan Brattander	....	portrait painter: Jamie Foxx and Kerry Washington
Gary A. Brewer	....	set dresser (as Gary Brewer)
Randy Brewer	....	set dresser (as John Brewer)
Gail Briant	....	paint gang boss: New Orleans
Robert Camron	....	set dresser
Cassie Catalanotto	....	painter
Kenneth Chauvin	....	set dresser
Daniel Coe	....	propmaker: New Orleans
Randall S. Coe	....	construction coordinator: New Orleans
Kelly Curley	....	construction purchaser: New Orleans
Carl Denooyer	....	set dresser (as Carl Denoyer)
Tracey A. Doyle	....	assistant set decorator (as Tracey Doyle)
Will Eastin	....	art department assistant
Everette Eglin	....	set dresser
Mary Frances Eglin	....	art department coordinator
Darrell Eik	....	propmaker: New Orleans
Meg Everist	....	assistant set decorator
Sara Fanelli	....	propmaker: New Orleans
Naomi Gattman	....	art department production assistant
Tommy Gilbert	....	set dresser
Stephanie Girard	....	set designer
Donald Goldman	....	propmaker: New Orleans (as Don Goldman)
Hector M. Gonzalez	....	set dresser (as Hector Gonzalez)
Chris Grantz	....	set dresser
Robert Guillot	....	propmaker: New Orleans
Ted Haigh	....	graphics designer
Larry Haney	....	set dresser
Mark Hannibal	....	set dresser
Dustin Haynen	....	set dresser
James O. Hays	....	propmaker: New Orleans
John Herbert	....	paint foreman: New Orleans
William Hickey	....	propmaker: New Orleans (as William S. Hickey)
David Hopkins	....	on-set dresser
David P. Kelsey	....	lead scenic: New Orleans (as David Kelsey)
Joel Klaff	....	draper
Bruce C. Knight II	....	assistant props
David Kronnenwetter	....	propmaker: New Orleans
Gary Kudroff	....	set dresser
Andree Lago	....	painter
Sidney J. Lambert	....	greensman
Louis Lasalle	....	propmaker: New Orleans
Leo Lauricella	....	construction gang boss: New Orleans
Leonard Lavigueur	....	assistant props
Leonard Lavigueur	....	property master: second unit
Anthony Maccario	....	property master (as Tony Macarrio)
Molly Mikula	....	set designer
Robert Miller	....	propmaker: New Orleans
Huey Mitchell	....	propmaker: New Orleans (as Huey Mitchel)
Luigi Mugavero	....	set dresser (as Lou Mugavero)
Danny Nick	....	swing gang
John Patterson	....	construction foreman: New Orleans
Jason Perlander	....	propmaker: New Orleans
Marvin Perry	....	construction gang boss: New Orleans
Janet Pett Davies	....	art department researcher (as Janet Pett-Davies)
Adele Plauche	....	set designer
Bob Renna	....	buyer
George Sanchez	....	set dresser
John Sanchez	....	set dresser
Brooke Sartorius	....	set dresser (as R. Brooke Satorius)
Willis R. Saucier	....	propmaker: New Orleans
Robert Sica	....	set dresser
Noah Smith	....	signwriter: New Orleans
Wayne Springfield	....	construction coordinator
Chuck Stringer	....	construction foreman: New Orleans
Mark Sullivan	....	propmaker: New Orleans
Ron Terry	....	set dresser
Marcus Turchi	....	propmaker: New Orleans
Foster Vick	....	set dresser
Stephen G. Walters	....	on-set painter: New Orleans (as Stephen Walters)
David Warburton	....	assistant props
Jessica Wimberley	....	art department production assistant
Jason C. Bitzer	....	art department production assistant (uncredited)
Ann Dunbar	....	food stylist (uncredited)
Christina Gulotta	....	graphics production assistant (uncredited)
Vincent F. LeBlanc Jr.	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Jared Pendergrass	....	props (uncredited)
Lia Roldan	....	art department assistant (uncredited)
Melanie R. Shannon	....	art department assistant (uncredited)

Sound Department
Christopher Assells	....	sound effects editor
Karen M. Baker	....	supervising sound editor (as Karen Baker Landers)
Bill Banyai	....	sound engineer
Bob Beemer	....	sound re-recording mixer
Steven J. Berger	....	assistant sound
Michael J. Broomberg	....	foley artist
Steve Cantamessa	....	sound mixer
Dino Dimuro	....	sound effects editor (as Dino R. DiMuro)
David Donaldson	....	sound designer
Per Hallberg	....	supervising sound editor
Phillip A. Hamilton	....	adr recordist
Catherine Harper	....	foley artist
Dan Hegeman	....	sound effects editor (as Daniel Hegeman)
Chris Jargo	....	adr supervisor
Scott La Rue	....	boom operator
Scott La Rue	....	sound utility
Kimaree Long	....	dialogue editor
Anna MacKenzie	....	sound editor
Scott Millan	....	sound re-recording mixer
Michael Miller	....	adr mixer
Christopher Moriana	....	foley artist
Philip D. Morrill	....	assistant sound editor
Tony Negrete	....	first assistant sound editor
Todd Niesen	....	dialogue denoising
Greg Orloff	....	sound re-recording mixer
Michelle Pazer	....	adr editor
Fred Peck III	....	sound re-recordist
Perry Robertson	....	sound effects editor
Scott Sanders	....	sound designer
Scott Sanders	....	sound effects editor
Frederick H. Stahly	....	dialogue editor
Peter Staubli	....	sound effects editor
Greg Steele	....	adr mixer
Lucy Sustar	....	foley mixer
Bruce Tanis	....	sound effects editor
Gary Thomas	....	boom operator
Derek Vanderhorst	....	additional foley mixer
Trevor Ward	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby
Aaron Zeller	....	playback operator
Jeffrey J. Hartwick	....	production sound intern (uncredited)
T.C. Spriggs	....	sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Chris Bailey	....	special effects coordinator: Los Angeles
Bob Cooper	....	special effects coordinator: New Orleans (as Robert H. Cooper)
Thomas Rasada	....	special effects technician

Visual Effects by
Danny Albano	....	digital compositor
Joel Ariniello	....	digital artist
Dan Ashton	....	scanning and recording supervisor: Cinesite Hollywood
Jill Bogdanowicz	....	colorist
Andrew Bonello	....	automated image processing
Jeff Christopherson	....	digital imaging engineer
Chad Dombrova	....	visual effects
Erik Hakanen	....	scanning and recording manager
H Haden Hammond	....	visual effects: Luma Pictures
Lisa Dennis Kennedy	....	visual effects producer
Hong Kim	....	digital restoration
Wendy Klein	....	visual effects: Luma Pictures
Valerie McMahon	....	digital compositor
Sal Migliore	....	digital intermediate data operator
Monty Phillips	....	digital artist (digital restoration)
Jerry Pooler	....	digital services supervisor: Cinesite
William Powloski	....	visual effects consultant
Brad Reinke	....	visual effects producer
Tony Sgueglia	....	data manager
Payam Shohadai	....	visual effects supervisor: Luma Pictures
Steve Switaj	....	motion control operator
Diane Wright	....	digital asset manager: Cinesite
Diane Wright	....	digital visual effects coordinator: Cinesite
Steve Wright	....	digital compositor: Cinesite

Stunts
Jeff Galpin	....	stunt coordinator (as Jeffrey Galpin)
David Andrew Nash	....	stunt double: Wendell Pierce (as David Nash)
Derrick Simmons	....	stunt double: Jamie Foxx

Camera and Electrical Department
Michael Applebaum	....	additional camera operator
Melanie Banders	....	film loader
Brian Bartolini	....	electrician: re-shoots
Michael Bauman	....	gaffer
Garrett Benson	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Mike Bonnaud	....	best boy electric
Frank Boone	....	grip
J.A. Byerly	....	best boy rigging electric
A. Anthony Cappello	....	first assistant camera
Larry Cottrill	....	electrician
Carlos DePalma	....	best boy rigging grip: Los Angeles crew
Kevin Fahey	....	rigging key grip
Matthew Gaumer	....	second assistant camera
Steven A. Guerrero	....	b dolly grip
Jeffrey M. Hoffman	....	additional camera operator
Lukasz Jogalla	....	director of photography: second unit
Dan Jones	....	electric rigging best boy
Franklin Jones II	....	rigging grip
Franklin D. Jones III	....	rigging grip
Matt Kennedy	....	camera loader
Bill Klages	....	concert lighting consultant
Dan Kubicek	....	electrician
Jim Kwiatkowski	....	key grip
Rick Lamb	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Ian Lynch	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Glen Magers	....	electrician
John Mang	....	dolly grip
Jack McCollum	....	set electrician
Michael A. McFadden	....	best boy rigging grip
Allen Parks	....	electrician
Earl Perque	....	best boy grip
Evan Pesses	....	video assist
Ralph Scherer	....	best boy grip
Art Schultz	....	set lighting technician
Michael J. Schwartz	....	electrician
Michaele Shapiro	....	camera loader: second unit
Michael L. Smith	....	grip and second unit key grip
Pete Stockton	....	rigging grip
Michael Tolochko	....	rigging gaffer
Diego Velasco	....	second assistant camera
Naomi Villanueva	....	assistant camera
Earl C. Williman	....	rigging best boy
Michael Nie	....	electric intern (uncredited)

Animation Department
Andrew Lynch	....	color assistant

Casting Department
Elizabeth Coulon	....	extras casting assistant
Shirley Fulton Crumley	....	location casting
Mark Fincannon	....	location casting
Kia Firstley	....	extras casting assistant
Timothee Hammond	....	extras casting assistant
Vicki Jo Hertz	....	extras casting associate
Cydney McCurdy	....	casting associate
Fredericka Ford Turner	....	casting associate
Seth Whitlow	....	location casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Yvonne Bastidos	....	set costumer
Donna Chance	....	key set costumer
Stephen M. Chudej	....	costume supervisor
Dana Embree	....	costumer
Linda Gardar	....	key costumer
Tyra Hughes	....	seamstress (as Tyra Hughes Brisco)
Marylou Lim	....	costumer
Amy Lynch	....	set costumer
Barbara Marko	....	costumer
Lauren Matesic	....	costume intern
George Mitchell	....	assistant costume designer
Fran Murphy	....	set costumer

Editorial Department
Jill Bogdanowicz	....	senior digital film colorist
Kyle DeVriendt	....	digital intermediate editor
Justine Gerenstein	....	editor: main title sequence
Joe Hathaway	....	color timer
Mike Jackson	....	assistant editor
Peck Prior	....	additional editor
Brad Reinke	....	digital intermediate producer
Khadijah Salahuddin	....	post-production assistant
Mark Scovil	....	assistant editor
Sandy S. Solowitz	....	assistant editor
Linda Williams	....	digital intermediate editor
Shannon Martellaro	....	assistant editor (segment "An American Story") (uncredited)

Music Department
Christine Bergren	....	music clearance
David Donaldson	....	music programmer
Matt Dunkley	....	orchestrator
Lindsay Fellows	....	executive in charge of music
Mark D. Fleming	....	technical music consultant
Emma Ford	....	score supervisor
Geoff Foster	....	score recordist
Isobel Griffiths	....	orchestra contractor
Charmaine Neville	....	vocal coach: Aunjanue Ellis
Larry Newman	....	musician: trumpet instructor: Larenz Tate
Jamil Sharif	....	music coordinator: New Orleans
Jamil Sharif	....	musician: trumpet instructor: Larenz Tate
Curt Sobel	....	music editor
Curt Sobel	....	music supervisor

Transportation Department
Michael Avallon	....	driver
Anthony Forester	....	picture car coordinator
Dave Haldeman	....	driver
Alan Kaminsky	....	transportation co-captain
John McLaughlin	....	driver: honeywagon
John Siedenburg	....	driver
Tim J. Walters	....	picture car wrangler
Charlie Wright	....	driver
Skip Barbay	....	driver: dayplayer (uncredited)

Other crew
Pamela Alch	....	script supervisor
Amy Amezcua	....	pre-production assistant to director (as Amie Amezcua)
Vernel Bagneris	....	choreographer
Vernel Bagneris	....	consultant: historical dance
Jonathan Watts Bell	....	intern
Lamonte Bell	....	payroll accountant
Bob Beltz	....	special advisor
Ilya Beynenson	....	production assistant
Kim Blank	....	co-choreographer
Kristine Bochum	....	second assistant accountant: post-production
Michele R. Boissiere	....	assistant production coordinator
Alonzo Bowens	....	saxophone instructor: Bokeem Woodbine
Jennifer L. Brooks	....	accounting staff assistant
Maya Browne	....	development executive: Mr. Hackford
Cassandra Butcher	....	unit publicist
Jason Calabro	....	production assistant
Jude Cambise	....	stand-in
Deven Chierighino	....	location assistant (as Deven Cherighino)
Maureen 'Mo' Crutchfield	....	post-production accountant
Carlo Daquin	....	stand-in
Richard Davis Jr.	....	location manager
Helio DeOliveira	....	location assistant
Matt DiFranco	....	assistant production coordinator
Frank Duffy	....	set medic (as Frankie Lynch)
Ross Durocher	....	stand-in
Alicia Elkort	....	first assistant accountant
Missy Eustermann	....	post-production accountant
Ryan Eustis	....	production assistant
Tim Ferguson	....	bass instructor: Thomas Jefferson Byrd
Stephen Finders	....	location assistant
Jordan Brendan Finnegan	....	set production assistant: Los Angeles
Karin Fong	....	title designer
Daphne A. Guichard	....	key construction medic
Christina Gulotta	....	graphics production assistant
Dana A. Hanby	....	location manager
Bill Hardy	....	production assistant
Brian A. Hoffman	....	office production assistant: additional photography
Lindsay Hudson	....	construction medic
Carolyn Hufstetler	....	production assistant
Tish Johnson	....	post-production accountant
Ted Kantrow	....	caterer
Rashon Khan	....	personal trainer: Mr. Foxx (as Rashon Kahn)
Jessica Lagos	....	assistant: Mr. Benjamin
Alexander Lasseigne III	....	accounting staff assistant
Grant Lau	....	title designer
Kathleen Lynch	....	craft service assistant
Johnny Mack	....	assistant: Mr. Foxx
Michelle Marchand II	....	intern production assistant
June Marshall	....	accounting clerk
Jessica Meier	....	office production assistant
Troy James Miller	....	production coordinator
George A. Parker	....	technical supervisor: preview
Nathan Parker	....	production intern
Evan Pesses	....	production assistant
Janet Pett Davies	....	researcher
Phuong Pham	....	set production assistant
Win Riley	....	location scout
Wanda Rouzan	....	assistant: Mr. Bagnaris
Elena Sahagun	....	executive: Mr. Benjamin
Amy Sanderson	....	production assistant: second unit
Amy Sanderson	....	script supervisor intern
Paul Schreiber	....	location scout
Jon Sharpe	....	technical supervisor: preview
Sherman Shelton Jr.	....	additional production assistant
Bartholomew Singer	....	production assistant
Slash	....	electric guitar
Bill Solley	....	guitar instructor: Terence Howard
Lee Solters	....	publicist
Birdie Talanca	....	first assistant accountant
A. Rachel Tobias	....	production secretary
Paul Uddo	....	production assistant
Rodelia Udell	....	second assistant accountant
Evienia Vassiliadou	....	assistant: Mr. Hackford
Diane Ward	....	production coordinator
Eric Scott Williamson	....	production assistant
Wise Wolf	....	assistant: Mr. Hackford (as Wise Wolfe IV)
Estella Yarbrough	....	consultant: Raelettes
Michael J. Harker	....	completion bond company representative (uncredited)
Joyce Heftel	....	script supervisor: pre-timing (uncredited)
Mark Joseph	....	development (uncredited)
Mark Joseph	....	marketing (uncredited)

Thanks
Ruth Brown	....	thanks
Ahmet Ertegun	....	thanks
Reggie Jackson	....	special thanks
Quincy Jones	....	thanks
Jerry Wexler	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Anvil Films
• Baldwin Entertainment Group
• Bristol Bay Productions

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (2004) (USA) (theatrical)
• Bontonfilm (2005) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2005) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2005) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2005) (Austria) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2005) (Germany) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2005) (France) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2005) (UK) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2005) (Italy) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2005) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2005) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (2005) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Crusader Entertainment
• Universal Home Video (2005) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Universal Home Video (2005) (Brazil) (VHS)

Special Effects

• K.N.B. Effects Group (special makeup effects)
• Cinesite (digital film services)
• Luma Pictures (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Air Lyndhurst Studios  score recorded and mixed at (as Air Studios)
• Atlantic Records  soundtrack published by
• Atlantic Records  thanks
• Boston Light & Sound  location dailies
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies
• Clairmont Camera  camera equipment provided by
• Dakota Music Services  music preparation
• Film Production Capital  tax credit financing
• Fourth Phase  theatrical stage lighting
• Gibson Guitars  thanks
• Hollywood Rentals Productions Services  location electric equipment (as Hollywood Rentals Inc.)
• Imaginary Forces  main and end titles and graphic sequences designed and produced by
• J.L. Fisher  camera dollies
• Lapinegrip  grip equipment
• Laser Pacific Media  digital laboratory preview services (as LaserPacific)
• Louisiana Casting Database  extras casting
• Metro Voices  choir
• Pacific Title  end title sequence
• Panavision Remote Systems  camera remote head (as Panavision Remote Camera Systems)
• Pivotal Post  Avid editing equipment provided by
• Rhino Records  soundtrack published by
• Solters & Digney  publicity
• Sony Pictures Studios William Holden Theatre  sound re-recording (as William Holden Theatre, Sony Pictures Studios)
• Stage Right Productions  grip equipment
• Technicolor  color timing
• WMG Soundtracks  soundtrack published by

Also Known As:

Unchain My Heart: The Ray Charles Story (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for depiction of drug addiction, sexuality and some thematic elements.

Runtime:

152 min | USA:178 min (extended version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS | SDDS

Certification:

Taiwan:PG-12 | India:A | Hungary:16 | Iceland:12 | South Korea:15 | Malaysia:(Banned) (theatrical) | Malaysia:U (DVD) | Sweden:11 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Brazil:16 | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Chile:TE | Finland:K-11 | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Ireland:15 | Japan:PG-12 | Netherlands:12 | Philippines:PG-13 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:NC-16 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Zurich) | UK:15 | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA

Company:

Anvil Films

Trivia:

During the scenes where Ray refuses to play in Georgia because of Jim Crow laws, which were actually filmed outside of the Municipal Auditorium in New Orleans, you will notice Mounted Police Officers. They were actual members of the New Orleans Police Department Mounted Unit.

Goofs:

Factual errors: They show Ray his new recording studio, which uses fluorescent lighting throughout. Fluorescent lighting is generally not used in recording studios as it can cause a hum in recordings.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Aretha Robinson: Always remember your promise to me. Never let nobody or nothing turn you into no cripple.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Goedemorgen Nederland: (2005-02-17)" (2005)

Soundtrack:

Rock This House

Unexpectedly Brilliant Performance

Given that Jamie Fox's former leading credentials not that long ago were limited to the Fox comedy series In Living Color and the atrocity of film, Booty Call, this is a truly pleasant surprise break-out performance. Jamie Fox is Ray Charles in this movie. You never question it or even think of him as Jamie Fox. It truly is uncanny. He physically looks like him, especially with the glasses, but the true magic of the performance is that he acts just like him. He walks around and performs like him, smiles like him, and just does everything like him. This is the best rendering of a real-life character in film since Jim Carrey's depiction of Andy Kaufman in Man On The Moon. However, I'd venture to say that Fox's rendering of Ray is even better. The film itself is good too, though it fails to make a smooth transition in several parts of it and lulls in some parts, while not lingering long enough in others. Of course all films of this nature that are essentially biographies to some extent tend to suffer somewhat from things of this nature. It's hard to pack 70 years into 2 1/2 hrs. Thus, the script mainly traces his early days starting out in music up into the late 60's, with a few flashbacks into his childhood and a brief jump to a single event in 1979. This is the only film I have ever seen in which the entire audience, myself included, stood up and gave a standing ovation after the last scene. It's a celebration of the life of Ray Charles that must be seen by all of his fans. The film doesn't pull any punches though. Two of the main dramatic focuses of the picture are Ray's infidelity on the road and his heroine addiction. All-in-all, a good movie, a great Oscar-worthy performance, and a good way to spend 2 1/2 hrs. This movie held my attention so well throughout its entirety that I really couldn't believe it was nearly as long as a lengthy epic like Titanic. A few quick notes: Jamie Fox spent a lot of time with Ray Charles in preparing for this role. Jamie wore prosthetics during the entire filming of the movie that made him unable to see, so if you wonder why he acts like he's blind so well, it's because he was for the movie. Also, he did all the piano playing himself, as he is practically a professionally trained pianist himself. However, for the singing, Jamie lip syncs perfectly to Charles' vocals. Overall, 8/10 movie...10/10 Jamie Fox performance.