#224: Ray, Movies recommended or seen lately... Les films a voir

Genre: Drama/Drame
Annee/Year: 2004
Country: US
Format: Blu Ray

Ray, after waiting for many years i finally was able to get my hands on the newest iteration of this film in Blu ray format. I wanted to insure the music quality was of the highest order and that is what the Blu ray delivers as well as an excellent image transfer. Director Taylor Hackford (An officer and a gentleman, Against all odds, White nights, Chuck Berry hail hail rock'n roll, Dolores Clairborne, The devil's advocate, Proof of life and more) brings us a very endearing biography on the life of Ray Charles who died on the same year this movie was released. Jamie Foxx plays here the role of his career as a blind mind who is the master of piano. We follow Ray through his career from his humble beginnings where he gets hustled (because he his blind and naive) until he creates his chart toping Rhytm and Soul music hits and back through the hell of heroin addiction. A respectful, sensitive movie which really makes you think it is very close to reality.
EXCELLENT musical interpretation. If you have not seen this film you owe it to yourself to watch it and the new Blu Ray release is very much a good incentive to do so.

Ray, une biographie du musicien extraordinaire Ray Charles réaliseé avec soin par Taylor Hackford (An officer and a gentleman, Against all odds, White nights, Chuck Berry hail hail rock'n roll, Dolores Clairborne, The devil's advocate, Proof of life et plus) qui a déjà fait plusieurs films musicaux. Ce film est une réussite et beaucoup de ceci est dû à Jamie Foxx qui interprète Ray Charles tout au long de sa longue carrière jusqu`à sa mort en 2004 année de publication de ce film. On suit dans ce film la carrière de Ray Charles de ses humbles débuts, où il se fait rouler par ses collègues autant parce qu`il est aveugle que par sa naïveté, jusqu`à la parution de ses plus grands succès Rhythm and Soul des années 60-80. On le suit également à travers ses problèmes familiaux et avec l`emprise de l`héroïne. Un film respectueux et très bien réalisé et surtout avec une trame sonore du tonerre. Si vous n`avez pas vu ce film qu`attendez vous? La sortie en Blu Ray est surement la meilleure excuse possible.

Great quotes:
[first lines] Aretha Robinson: Always remember your promise to me. Never let nobody or nothing turn you into no cripple.
...
Quincy Jones: Say, daddy-o, what axe you play?
Ray Charles: Uh, piano. Just blew in from Tampa, Florida. Me and my partner, Gossie McGee, came here, you know, want to fatten up our style. Cop some licks from some more experienced cats, you dig?
Quincy Jones: You know what? Why don't you let me take you inside? You know, show you around.
Ray Charles: All right. Perfect gentleman.
Quincy Jones: Yeah, this is just like my place. So, what's your name?
Ray Charles: Ray Robinson.
Quincy Jones: I'm Quincy Jones.
...
Ray Charles: Don't jive me, man.
...
Fathead Newman: This ain't no weed, Ray. And we ain't snorting no bitch. This is boy! Boy'll make your ass null and void.
Ray Charles: Null and void, just like my life.
...
Milt Shaw: You know, Ray, your contract with Atlantic expires in 4 months.
Ray Charles: Yeah, I know. Ahmet and Jerry sent me my new contract. They're gonna double my royalties.
Milt Shaw: Before we go down that road again I thought I'd check and see what else was out there.
Ray Charles: Now, who told you to do that? Atlantic is family. Just like the Shaw agency.
Milt Shaw: Ray, my job is to find you the best deal out there. Now, I had a very productive meeting with the folks at ABC Paramount and they are very interested.
Ray Charles: No. How interested?
Milt Shaw: How about a 50 thousand dollar advance every year for the first three years? You choose your own music. They'll deduct recording costs and pay you 75 percent. Now, look, Ahmet and Jerry are flying in tomorrow night. Will you at least put them off until I have a chance to talk to the boys at ABC?
Ray Charles: Well, my mama always said there was nothin' wrong with talkin'.
...
Jack Lauderdale: Smell that, Ray? It's the smell of success. We're in LA now. A place where the negro can really spread his wings and fly.
...
Ahmet Ertegun: If you think pennies, Mr. Charles, you get pennies. If you think dollars, you get dollars.
...
Della Bea Robinson: [talking about Ray's drug problem] You have got to stop this now because there is something you love more then me...
Ray Charles: No, don't say that, Bea...
Della Bea Robinson: ...there is something you love more then me, the children, and every woman you ever slept with.
Ray Charles: No, don't say that, Bea. You know I love you more then anythin'
Della Bea Robinson: [shouts] It's your music! [starts to cry]
Della Bea Robinson: And if you keep usin' that needle they'll take away your music and put you in *jail!* Is that what you want?
...
Della Bea Robinson: If only your mama was here.
Ray Charles: She's here. She ain't never left.

Link: http://www.universalstudiosentertainment.com/ray/

Entertainment rating: 8.5/10
Cast/acting rating: 8.5/10
Artistic rating: 8/10
Reflexion rating: 7/10
Production rating: 8/10
Adult factor: 8/10
Wide audience: 8/10
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Overall personnal rating: 8.0/10