Somehow I was drawing narrative parallels between Ray and The
Aviator. Both tell the story of an enigmatic genius, their prime 20
years, their love and relationships, their acute business sense,
and their struggles with inner demons.
Ray Charles Robinson is an icon, though I've never really paid
attention to his gospel/r&b/country music, I've found myself
tapping my feet and grooving in my seat, thoroughly enjoying the
hits that the film showcased. Brought up by a single mum, he
witnessed the death of his brother, before glaucoma claimed his
sight. His initial road to stardom was hampered by difficulties,
always being on the road, travelling with a band.
Whilst he never allowed his blindness to be his handicap, he
allowed himself to be handicapped instead by his addiction to
heroin. As all addicts would say, they know when to stop, so long
as it's not hurting life or music, it's ok. But he was wrong, as we
see him using his addiction as a crutch to cope with his infidelity
when on the road. While his fortunes get bigger, so does his
addiction problem, until he decides to kick the habit the cold
turket way.
I'm a Jamie Foxx fan, ever since his early days when I watched
re-runs of "In Living Color" and his sitcom "The Jamie Foxx Show"
on tv. After his acclaimed performance in Collateral, he has proven
himself once again in Ray by mimicking the real mccoy so well,
you'd think that it was Ray Charles on screen all the time. I
salute character actors, and I salute Jamie Foxx.
The music brings this show to life too. My bet is even if you're
not a Gospel/R&B fan, after watching this show, you'd want to
give this genre a listen, starting with Ray Charles' hits.