Ray (2004)

The story of the life and career of the legendary rhythm and blues musician Ray Charles, from his humble beginnings in the South, where he went blind at age seven, to his meteoric rise to stardom during the 1950s and 1960s.

Director:

Taylor Hackford

Writers:

Taylor Hackford (story), James L. White (story)

Stars:

Jamie Foxx, Regina King, Kerry Washington

Won 2 Oscars. Another 51 wins & 54 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

The story of Ray Charles (played by Jamie Foxx), music legend. Told in his adult life with flashbacks to his youth we see his humble origins in Florida, his turbulent childhood, which included losing his brother and then his sight, his rise as pianist in a touring band, him writing his own songs and running his own band, and then stardom. Also includes his addiction to drugs and its affect on his working life and family life.

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Plot Keywords:

based on true story | character name as title | based on real person | eyesight | organ | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Music

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Ray Charles goes to rehab, he meets a doctor whose name tag reads T. Hacker, a play on writer, producer, and director Taylor Hackford's name.

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Goofs

When Ray is recording "Georgia on My Mind," the conductor is conducting the wrong beats in one take.

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Quotes

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

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Crazy Credits

Producers wish to thank David 'Fathead' Newman Jr. (Who still performs internationally and enjoys a healthy drug-free lifestyle)

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Alternate Versions

Universal Pictures Oscar Edition contains Extended Cut of the film.

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Connections

Referenced in Jay Leno's Garage: Movie Cars (2018)

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Soundtracks

Anytime
Written by Herbert 'Happy' Lawson
Performed by Ray Charles

User Reviews

Not a Ray fan? No problem. Cinema at its best

My wife wanted to see this movie and I grudgingly went along. I have never been a big fan of the biopic - believing that cinema is more exciting when it isn't structured in non-fiction. Beyond that, although I like Ray Charles' music just fine, I don't consider myself a fan of him or his music.

I expected to either suffer or coast through this movie.

I was wrong.

This is an engaging story told in a classic cinematic style. The realism is in the nuances - the tilt of a character's head after a dramatic moment or the look in their eyes while they sing. I literally discovered myself involved in this movie during the course of viewing it.

Jaime Foxx, of which much has been said, heads a cast of immaculate re-creators of not just a time, but an ERA, a LIFE that never really existed to those of us under forty. This movie sinks the audience into time without the gimmicks and grand sweeping panoramas of Titanic or other period pieces of that ilk. This movie doesn't present you with the 50's and 60's music scene, it takes you there.

This is a movie about Ray Charles, but your appreciate of it should not be limited to the story of his life. This is the kind of movie, like Saving Private Ryan or Schindler's List, that does what a movie should do - bring you to another place, another time.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 October 2004 (USA)

Also Known As:

Unchain My Heart: The Ray Charles Story

Filming Locations:

Laurel Valley, Thibodaux, Louisiana, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$40,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$20,039,730, 31 October 2004

Gross USA:

$75,331,600

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$123,971,376

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Bristol Bay Productions, Anvil Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

152 min 178 min (extended)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1