what Hollywood knows to do best

Rating: 9/10 (26 August 2005)

Having used many times Hollywood as the reference for big American studio movie making style, commercial and deprived of artistic quality, let me say that 'Ray' is good. it's good because this is what Hollywood is good at - taking a life and bringing it to screen in a cinema epic of dimensions that stays with you for a long time. In a year that brought many American stories and heroes 'Ray' is the best, much more representative than 'Aviator' for example of the times and of the American spirit.
It's difficult to say much more that was not said. Jamie Foxx is not acting superbly in Ray, he IS Ray Charles, and the Oscar seems to be in place. The music is superb, the re-creation of the music and social scene of the 50s and 60s seems true. The anti-drug message is somehow too simplistic but is strong and consistent and ends by being moving overall. Unless you hate music films you will enjoy 'Ray' for many reasons.