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| Ray (film) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Ray |
| Caption | Theatrical release poster |
| Director | Taylor Hackford |
| Producer | Taylor Hackford, Stuart Benjamin |
| Writer | James L. White |
| Based on | Life of Ray Charles |
| Starring | Jamie Foxx, Kerry Washington, Craig Bierko, Regina King, Clifton Powell |
| Music | Quincy Jones, T-Bone Walker |
| Cinematography | Paweł Edelman |
| Editing | Paul Hirsch |
| Studio | New Line Cinema, Imagine Entertainment |
| Distributor | Universal Pictures |
| Released | October 29, 2004 |
| Runtime | 152 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $40 million |
| Gross | $124.7 million |
Ray (film) is a 2004 American biographical drama film chronicling the life and career of Ray Charles, directed by Taylor Hackford and written by James L. White. The film stars Jamie Foxx as Charles and follows his rise from poverty in Florida to international fame, exploring themes of blindness, addiction, racial segregation, and musical innovation. Produced by New Line Cinema and Imagine Entertainment, the film blends dramatized biography with performances of Charles's music and garnered widespread critical praise and multiple awards.
The narrative begins in the 1930s with young Ray Charles Robinson growing up in Albany, Georgia and Jacksonville, Florida, learning music amid poverty and family loss. It depicts his losing sight from glaucoma, his formative education at the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind, and mentorship by local musicians leading to gigs in Tampa, Florida and the emerging Atlantic City circuit. As Ray builds a career in Los Angeles and New York City, the film portrays collaborations with figures like Ahmet Ertegun-era executives, battles with racial segregation during tours in the Jim Crow South, and personal relationships including marriage to Della Beatrice Howard and relationship with singer Margie Hendricks. The plot covers Ray's innovation blending gospel music, jazz, blues, and country music, his struggle with heroin addiction amid the 1950s and 1960s music industry, legal troubles with the Internal Revenue Service, and eventual recovery, culminating in performances that define his legacy.
The principal cast includes Jamie Foxx as the musician Ray Charles, Kerry Washington portraying Della Beatrice Howard, Regina King as Margie Hendricks, and Clifton Powell as Jeff Brown. Supporting roles feature Craig Bierko, Kent Faulcon, Harry Lennix, and Isaach de Bankolé in portrayals of industry figures, promoters, and fellow musicians. Cameos and portrayals evoke figures associated with Charles’s life such as session musicians from Memphis and arrangers connected to studios in Los Angeles and New York City. The ensemble represents artists, family members, and executives from music institutions like Atlantic Records and performance venues including The Apollo Theater.
Development began after producer Stuart Benjamin and Taylor Hackford secured life rights with Ray Charles and negotiated with his estate and associates. James L. White crafted the screenplay drawing on biographies and interviews with collaborators who worked with Charles in Tennessee, Georgia, and California. Casting centered on finding an actor who could inhabit Charles’s mannerisms and musicality; Jamie Foxx, then known for roles on In Living Color alumni networks and collaborations in Los Angeles film circles, was cast following screen tests and vocal coaching. Principal photography took place across locations representing Georgia, Florida, California, and New York City, with Paweł Edelman as cinematographer recreating period looks from the 1930s through the 1970s. Production design incorporated replica studios, period instruments, and costumes reflective of eras associated with labels like Atlantic Records and venues such as The Fillmore.
The soundtrack features performances of signature songs associated with Ray Charles, arranged to reflect studio sessions and live performances throughout his career. Music supervision involved sourcing masters and re-recordings, with Jamie Foxx performing many vocals and lip-sync sequences supplemented by veteran session players from Motown and Stax Records traditions. The film highlights genres including gospel music, rhythm and blues, country music, and soul music, and includes interpretations of standards arranged by contemporary producers associated with Quincy Jones-style orchestration. Sound mixing and editing aimed to recreate historic recording techniques from studios in Memphis and New Orleans.
The film premiered at festivals and opened wide in October 2004 through Universal Pictures and New Line Cinema distributions. Critics praised Jamie Foxx’s portrayal and the film’s musical sequences, while some commentators debated dramatizations of personal events and omissions compared to published biographies. Reviews in major publications and coverage at festivals reflected acclaim for direction, cinematography, and ensemble casting from communities connected to Hollywood and the American music industry. At the box office, it grossed over $120 million worldwide against a production budget near $40 million, achieving both commercial success and renewed public interest in Ray Charles’s recordings on catalog labels.
The film received multiple nominations and awards, most notably Jamie Foxx earning the Academy Award for Best Actor and the film securing nominations across Golden Globe Awards, BAFTA Awards, and Screen Actors Guild Awards. Additional recognition included honors from music and film institutions acknowledging cinematography, sound mixing, and makeup. Industry accolades reflected both acting achievements and the film’s contribution to biographical storytelling in American cinema.
Category:2004 films Category:Biographical films Category:Films about musicians