So I've recently re-watched this movie and I must say that I dislike it just as much now as when it first came out. The story is fine, the direction is amateurish, but the acting is terrible! I hate this film.
It's hard to mess up a bio-pic when the subject is still alive. Well, never mind, it's not. Either way, I have no issue with the story by Taylor Hackford, who also directs, and James L. White. It tells of the young life of Ray Charles, a famously blind piano-blues musician, and his hardships growing up with his handicap. We follow him as his career begins, his battle with drugs, his addiction and abuse of women, and his success. It is a real shame this film couldn't find a better director and actors, it could have been almost great.
Taylor Hackford, husband to Helen Mirren, has also directed film like "An Officer and a Gentlemen", and "Dolores Claiborne". I think Hackford has hints of directorial mediocrity, but always seem to fall short of a whole picture. I'm continuously thrown by the shots and angles he chooses, although his lighting choices are sometimes very good. This simply was not a suitable films for his limited abilities.
Now the portion that will anger many who read this.Jamie Foxx is NOT a good actor!!! He does fair impersonations of people, but that does not transfer over into acting. My favorite scene he has ever done is when he is impaled in "Baby Driver". I really would have loved to have seen a really talented actor in this role. Picture if you will Denzel Washington as Ray Charles. They could have used the same CG that they used in X-Men to make Patrick Stewart look younger. Denzel could have even made Hackford look like a genius. I so wish that Jamie Foxx would have disappeared with the rest of "In Living Color"!
I would not suggest this film to anyone. It is a colossal waste of time for any self respecting film fan. Again, the writing is it's only redeeming quality!
Love this movie
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