THIS is one of the Best Pictures of the Year?!?

Rating: 2/10 (3 February 2005)

So, last night, I got to watch Ray, thanks to the good people at Netflix, and, it's official . . . I think Ray sucks! Actually, Ray is the best Lifetime Original Movie of the Year . . . Unfortunately, it was released in theaters, and Markie Post was nowhere to be found.
First off, it was clear that Foxx was the best choice to play Ray Charles, and I don't fault him, save for the times where he's clearly looking at someone through his glasses while he's making a serious point . . . Unfortunately, Foxx's charismatic performance is trapped within an interminable, mostly crappy movie. Seriously, I'm pretty sure that Ray is about three days long.
The best parts all come from the music, and it's worth it to hear Charles' stuff . . . However, you have to sit through about an hour and a half's worth of endless flashbacks, where Ray's momma has to keep tellin' him "Don't you be no cripple for nobody, nowhere, no time," along with other grammatically incorrect pearls of wisdom.
This movie is from the aptly named Taylor Hackford, who takes the lessons he learned working on Proof of Life and Devil's Advocate and moves his artistry to a new level of mediocrity. The story style is the blandest way possible . . . Seriously, I've seen student short films with more depth.
I know this is a Best Picture candidate, and maybe I'm just a cynical bastard (NAWWWW), but man, I'm telling you, this is NOT a good movie. Great soundtrack, sure, but movie? Blah. Before I saw it, I read constantly in reviews about how Ray does a good job of avoiding clichés, which surprises me, since the entire movie's structure rests on a series of tired clichés. For example: Ray needs to kick drugs, so naturally, there's the horrific "drug withdrawal" sequence, complete with shaky camera-work and swirly lights. It's terrifying if you believed Reefer Madness.
My poster quote: "You can't spell "overrated" without Ray!"