| Major Cast | |
|---|---|
| Jamie Foxx | as Ray Charles |
| Kerry Washington | as Della Bea Robinson |
| Regina King | as Margie Hendricks |
| Clifton Powell | as Jeff Brown |
| Harry Lennix | as Joe Adams |
| Bokeem Woodbine | as Fathead Newman |
| Aunjanue Ellis | as Mary Ann Fisher |
| Sharon Warren | as Aretha Robinson |
| C.J. Sanders | as Young Ray Robinson |
| Curtis Armstrong | as Ahmet Ertegun |
| Richard Schiff | as Jerry Wexler |
| Larenz Tate | as Quincy Jones |
| Terrence Howard | as Gossie McGee |
| David Krumholtz | as Milt Shaw |
| Wendell Pierce | as Wilbur Brassfield |
| Chris Thomas King | as Lowell Fulson |
| Thomas Jefferson Byrd | as Jimmy |
| Rick Gomez | as Tom Dowd |
| Denise Dowse | as Marlene |
| Warwick Davis | as Oberon |
| Patrick Bauchau | as Dr. Hacker |
| Robert Wisdom | as Jack Lauderdale |
| Kurt Fuller | as Sam Clark |
| Julian Bond | as Himself |
| Kimberly J. Ardison | as Ethel McRae |
| Renee Wilson | as Pat Lyle |
| Willie Metcalf | as Mr. Pitt |
| Mike Pniewski | as Bus Driver |
| Terrone Bell | as Young George Robinson |
| Richard A. Smith | as Til |
| Gary Grubbs | as Billy Ray |
| Carol Sutton | as Eula |
| Bill Breaux | as Cop #1 |
| Alex Van | as Cop #2 |
| Roland Bob Harris | as Jesse Stone |
| Tom Clark | as Alan Freed |
| Afemo Omilami | as Angry Husband |
| Elizabeth Omilami | as Angry Wife |
| Vernel Bagneris | as Dancin' Al |
| Fahnlohnee R. Harris | as Trudy Daniels |
| Michael Travis Stone | as Robert |
| Eric O'Neal Jr. | as Ray Charles (5/6 Y/O) |
| Tequan Richmond | as Ray Charles (9-10 Y/O) |
| Matthew Benjamin | as Musician in Billy Ray's |
| John Swasey | as Customs Agent #1 |
| James Huston | as Customs Agent #2 |
| Marc Lynn | as Downbeat Reporter |
| Kyle Scott Jackson | as King Bee |
| J. Todd Smith | as Student Reporter |
| Rutherford Cravens | as White Promoter |
| Darnell Rhea | as Fast Girl |
| Jedda Jones | as Mercedes |
| Jeff Galpin | as Cop #3 |
| Michael Arata | as Cop #4 |
| Estella Denson | as Lady in Rain |
| Johnny O'Neill | as Art Tatum Piano Interpretations |
| Jamil Sharif | as Ray's Band - 1st Trumpet |
| Edward Anderson | as Ray's Band - 2nd Trumpet |
| Alonzo Bowens | as Ray's Band - Alto Saxophone |
| Clarence Johnson | as Ray's Band - Baritone Saxophone |
| Edwin Livingston | as Ray's Band - Bass |
| Herman LeBeaux | as Ray's Band - Drums |
| Raymond Webber | as Lowell Fulson's Band - Drums |
| MPAA Rating: | PG-13 |
| Production Co.: | Universal Pictures |
| Distribution Cos. (USA): | Universal Pictures (Theatrical) Universal Studios Home Entertainment (DVD & Blu-ray) |
| Release Date (US): | 10/29/2004 |
| Running Time (US): | 152 minutes |
| Domestic Box Office: | $75,305,995 (3/11/2005) |
| Foreign Box Office: | $? |
| Production Budget: | $40,000,000 (Est.) |
| Crew | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| PRODUCED BY | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| DIRECTED BY: Taylor Hackford | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Writing Credits (WGA): | Taylor Hackford & James L. White (story) James L. White (screenplay) |
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| Original Music: | Craig Armstrong | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Cinematography: | Adam Greenberg | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Film Editing: | Paul Hirsch | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Casting: | Nancy Klopper | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Production Design: | Stephen Altman | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Production Management: | Lisa Dennis Barbara A. Hall Yvonne Yaconelli John H. Burrows |
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| Art Direction: | John Bucklin | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Set Decoration: | Maria Nay | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Costume Design: | Sharen Davis | ||||||||||||||||||||
The film dramatizes Ray Charles from his accidental blinding at age 71 through his early struggles against managers who exploited his talents through his ultimate superstardom — and the drug use and philandering along the way.
It was great to hear more music from Ray Charles, and to learn more about his life. My only complaints about this film (as presented on DVD) are that it runs long and the dialogue is sometimes hard to hear clearly.
My Rating:
9 out of 10
Capsule review: Ray gives us a very detailed and unsparing review of the life and early hard times of the legendary entertainer.
| IMDB Rating: 7.7 | Raters: 115,457 |
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