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"RAY" (2004) (Jamie Foxx, Kerry Washington) (PG-13) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Extreme Minor Extreme Moderate None Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Minor Minor Mild Mild Moderate Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Heavy Extreme Heavy Heavy Mild QUICK TAKE: Drama: A blind pianist battles various personal demons while entering and then succeeding in the music industry over the course of several decades in this biographical look at the legendary Ray Charles. PLOT: It's 1948, and Ray Charles (JAMIE FOXX) is a young, black and blind man headed from Florida to Seattle where he hopes to make a splash in the music business. After briefly meeting Quincy Jones (LARENZ TATE), he gets a gig playing piano with Gossie McKee (TERRENCE DASHON HOWARD) for Marlene (DENISE DOWSE), a club manager who enjoys his many talents both on and off stage where he's also introduced to drugs for the first time with club announcer Oberon (WARWICK DAVIS). Ray's soon a hit and after tiring of Marlene and Gossie ripping him off, he signs with Jack Lauderdale (ROBERT WISDOM) of Swing Time records. Despite his success, he's still haunted by tragedies from when he was just a boy (C.J. SANDERS). Yet, he remembers the firm encouragement from his illiterate mother, Aretha (SHARON WARREN), about never allowing any setback in his life to cripple him. While traveling and performing with another band, Ray is introduced to heroin, an addiction that eventually becomes quite prevalent in his life. Yet, at the same time, and with the help of former band-mate and manager Jeff Brown (CLIFTON POWELL), his success continues, especially when Atlantic Records executives Ahmet Ertegun (CURTIS ARMSTRONG) and Jerry Wexler (RICHARD SCHIFF) assume his contract and nurture his talent. It's then that he meets Della Bea (KERRY WASHINGTON) and the two quickly hit it off and are soon married. His growing addiction, the demands of the business and traveling on the road, however, put a strain on their relationship, particularly when he has affairs with his back-up singers, first Mary Ann Fisher (AUNJANUE ELLIS) and then Margie Hendricks (REGINA KING). With the years passing and his success growing, Ray keeps churning out the hits, all while bringing on a new manager, Joe Adams (HARRY LENNIX), and dealing with the various personal and professional demons of his life. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? If they're fans of Ray Charles or anyone in the cast, it's a good bet they just might. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13 For depiction of drug addiction, sexuality and some thematic elements. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: JAMIE FOXX plays a blind man who becomes a huge recording artist after striking out on his own at a young age. He smokes, drinks, has affairs while married and becomes a drug addict. KERRY WASHINGTON plays Ray's loving wife who sticks with him despite his adultery and drug addiction REGINA KING plays another of Ray's backup singers with whom he has an affair. She takes up drinking when he wants their relationship only to be professional, but she ends up pregnant by him. CLIFTON POWELL plays Ray's early music partner and later road manager who isn't happy when Joe comes on board and takes over the show. HARRY LENNIX plays the former deejay who becomes Ray's show announcer and his later stern and all-business road manager. He smokes a few times. AUNJANUE ELLIS plays the singer who has an affair with Ray on the road. SHARON WARREN plays Ray's poor and illiterate mom who wants and demands more from her son and pushes him not to let his blindness deter his potential. C.J. SANDERS plays Ray as a boy who must deal with his brother's death as well as his own blindness. CURTIS ARMSTRONG plays an executive at Atlantic records who lures Ray to sign with them. RICHARD SCHIFF plays his partner who smokes and becomes concerned with Ray's growing drug addiction. THOMAS JEFFERSON BYRD is one of Ray's band-mates who's a heroin addict. DENISE DOWSE plays the club manager who gives Ray his first real break but also takes him as her lover. She also smokes. WARWICK DAVIS plays a little person who works as her announcer and introduces Ray to pot. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: The following is a brief summary of the content found in this drama that's been rated PG-13. Profanity consists of at least 1 "s" word, while plenty of other expletives and colorful phrases are uttered. Sexually related dialogue and some song lyrics are present, while off-screen sex is suggested (some characters are seen in bed and elsewhere before or after the fact with some kissing and female bare backs being seen) and other sexual material is also present (including a woman who seems intent on performing oral sex on a man who stops her). Some of those encounters involve a married man cheating on his wife (leading to tense family material including her threatening to leave if the husband doesn't shape up), while other bad attitudes (including racism) occur. Various characters drink and/or smoke throughout the film, while some smoke pot and/or shoot heroin (with the protagonist becoming a heavy-duty addict). A young boy accidentally drowns in a flashback and the main character has several potentially unsettling/suspenseful hallucinations/visions related to that. There's a brief scuffle, a windshield is broken and a woman slaps a man. Should you still be concerned about the film's appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home, you may want to look more closely at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE Miscellaneous people have drinks in scenes set in clubs/venues (that occur throughout the film). Oberon tells Ray to "smoke some of this" and Ray complains that it isn't tobacco (it's pot). Oberon then tells him to hold it in as it will relax him and we then see Ray smiling after doing just that. Oberon tells Ray that he has some fresh "gage" off the boat and we then see him and Ray smoking pot. We see some band members preparing some heroin. A comment is made about a still in a flashback. We see some band guys prepping to shoot heroin. Ray then wants to try some and then does so. A band member tells Ray that heroin is better than sex, with Ray replying that nothing is better than sex. We see Ray shooting up heroin and he races to keep that secret from his wife. Della finds Ray's drugs and isn't happy about that, leading to some marital discord between them. Ray prepares to shoot up. Margie brings Ray a drink. Later, the two appear a bit inebriated. As Ray does some heroin, Margie wants to try some, but he won't let her. A comment is made that Ray has "that junkie itch." Later, Jerry states, "The junk is starting to show." Margie calls Ray and tells him that she has his favorite bottle of liquor. When he tells her never to call him at home, she drinks some of that liquor. Margie drinks from a bottle while on the job and others point out that she's drunk. Ray and one of his managers share a joint. Margie drinks from a flask. We see drug paraphernalia by Ray who appears quite high and confuses Margie for Della. Ray is high again as police knock on the door and then arrest him for drug use/possession (although there's obvious racism behind their actions). Della is mad at Ray again over his drug use. Ray gets a call that a person died from a drug overdose. Ray is arrested for drug possession upon returning to the country. BLOOD/GORE We see Margie race to the bathroom and then hear her vomit (from being pregnant). We hear the sound of Ray vomiting while going through heroin withdrawal. He then has the dry heaves while trying to vomit later. While going through heroin withdrawal, Red has various quick hallucinations, some of which show reddish water (possibly suggesting blood). DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE A white man repeatedly calls Ray "boy." We then see Ray sitting in the "colored" section at the back of the bus. To get a seat on a bus, Ray lies about being on Omaha Beach, stating he took a direct hit to the eyes (played for comedy for the viewer). Ray figures out that Marlene and Gossie have been taking advantage of him financially. In a flashback, Aretha confronts another woman about not paying her enough for laundry work she's done. Various band members don't include Ray in their activities or socializing. Ray catches the band's money manager shortchanging his payment. Ray can tell if a woman is attractive by feeling her wrist and arm. In a montage of him doing so, he acts revolted when he feels a large woman's pudgy wrist and arm (which is there to generate laughs from the viewer). People are upset that Ray has turned gospel music into something suggestive with its mix of blues music and somewhat suggestive lyrics (such as "I got a woman...she been good to me") (some viewers may feel the same way). Jerry Wexler slips some money to a deejay for playing Ray's song. Margie and Mary Ann have some bad attitudes toward each other while vying for Ray's attention, while he cheats on his wife with both of them. Margie slaps Ray on the face after he tells her that she has to have an abortion. We black people protesting segregation in Georgia. A white man tells a black protestor to "get your black ass out of here" and calls him "boy." Ray then decides not to play there after that, prompting the man to threaten Ray with legal matters. Ray is high again as police knock on the door and then arrest him for drug use/possession (although there's obvious racism behind their actions). Some cops refer to Ray's music as "jungle music" that they say is poisoning the white kids' minds. Band members aren't happy when Joe starts fining them for showing up late for work. We learn that one of Ray's managers was doing side deals to make more money off Ray's success. FRIGHTENING SCENES While packing his suitcase, Ray suddenly feels water in it (we see it) and then feels a young boy's dead arm in it (accompanied by suspenseful music as he's hallucinating about his long dead younger brother). Ray has another hallucination where he's suddenly standing in some shallow water in a hallway, reaches down into it and feels a young dead boy's legs (accompanied by suspenseful music). In a flashback, Ray's younger brother slips on a table and falls into a large, metal wash bucket. Young Ray thinks his brother is joking around and then stands in frozen fright, as the boy doesn't move. Aretha comes out, sees the boy's legs sticking out of the bucket, and races to retrieve and revive him, but it's too late. We then see a funeral scene showing a grieving Aretha and a shell-shocked Ray. We see Ray's adverse initial reaction to going through heroin withdrawal at rehab. While going through heroin withdrawal, Red has various quick hallucinations, some of which show reddish water (possibly suggesting blood). GUNS/WEAPONS None. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "What the hell do you think you're doing?" "Jive ass," "Saved their asses," "Hell yeah," "Hell you did," "Lazy ass bastards," "Take a leak," "Sissy," "Bitch," "You lying son of a bitch," "Fool," "Shut up," "Piss," "You can go to hell by yourself," "I don't have to do a G*ddamn thing," "What the hell /is wrong with that/is going on?" "Sucker," "You're a cold ass bastard," "You're damn right," "Listen to that crap," "You're outta your damn mind," "You're a damn fool," "Get your black ass out of here," "Mean ass," "I'll be damned," "Hot damn," "Sure as hell," "How the hell do you think it is?" JUMP SCENES The sudden sight of a dead child's limbs in water in some of Ray's nightmarish hallucinations might startle some viewers. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) A mild amount of ominous music plays in several scenes. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) People are upset that Ray has turned gospel music into something suggestive with its mix of blues music and somewhat suggestive lyrics (such as "I got a woman...she been good to me"). One of Ray's songs has a line where he asks a woman if he can take her home tonight. Another song by Ray has suggestive but not explicit lyrics as well as some suggestive guttural sounds from him and his female backup singers. PROFANITY At least 1 "s" word, 1 slang term for sex ("lay the pipe"), 1 slang term for male genitals ("big thunder"), 26 damns, 19 hells, 15 asses, 3 S.O.B.s, 2 craps, 9 uses of "G-damn," 3 of "Oh God" and 1 use each of "God" and "Jesus." SEX/NUDITY Marlene complains about a man "catting around" with a waitress. Oberon does an introduction for a show and says that it's something that will satisfy the audience, but then jokes that it's not "Oberon's big thunder," joking that's another show. After stating that Ray will be staying at her place, we hear Marlene there asking Ray if he's coming back to bed, adding, "Mama's not finished yet." She later makes a suggestive comment about "more blackberry cobbler for you" (a double entendre). The camera focuses on a woman's clothed butt as she shakes it around while dancing. Gossie states that Ray has free rent at Marlene's place, prompting Ray to reply, "Like hell it's free" (referring to having sex with her). While moving out, Ray tells Gossie (about Marlene), "You can lay the pipe now" (meaning have sex with her). After a male band member says something about a steak, a woman suggestively replies about something big, thick and juicy. A band member tells Ray that heroin is better than sex, with Ray replying that nothing is better than sex. We see Della lying on Ray's chest in bed as he caresses her bare back (suggesting they've had sex). People are upset that Ray has turned gospel music into something suggestive with its mix of blues music and somewhat suggestive lyrics (such as "I got a woman...she been good to me"). Ray and Della do some playful kissing as she comments on them starting their family right then. A protestor complains that Ray is turning gospel music into sex. Jeff spots Ray feeling Mary Ann's wrist and realizes that means trouble. Ray then has an affair with Mary Ann and we see them passionately kissing and then them in bed before or after sex (we see her bare back). One of Ray's songs has a line where he asks a woman if he can take her home tonight. Referring to another woman, Mary Ann tells Ray (in the backseat of a moving car), "I bet she doesn't do this" as she starts to move her head down toward his crotch, but Ray stops her (although she's still all over him -- both are clothed). Margie asks what hotel room Ray is in (both appear a bit inebriated) and he jokingly replies, "69." They then do some kissing in the hallway and she tells him not to unbuckle his pants yet while he briefly has his hands down near or on her clothed butt. Ray and Margie do some passionate kissing and heavy breathing in the bathroom where he removes her top (we see her in her bra), but the scene ends there. The camera focuses on a woman's clothed body as she dances on a table. Jerry complains that Ray's new song is "too damn sexual." Another song by Ray has suggestive but not explicit lyrics as well as some suggestive guttural sounds from him and his female backup singers. SMOKING Ray smokes or has a lit cigarette near him more than 20 times, Jerry, Gossie, Marlene, Milt and Joe each smoke several times, Quincy smokes once and various miscellaneous people smoke in many scenes set in clubs/venues. TENSE FAMILY SCENES In a flashback, Ray's younger brother slips on a table and falls into a large, metal wash bucket. Young Ray thinks his brother is joking around and then stands in frozen fright, as the boy doesn't move. Aretha comes out, sees the boy's legs sticking out of the bucket, and races to retrieve and revive him, but it's too late. We then see a funeral scene showing a grieving Aretha and a shell-shocked Ray. Later and as an adult, Ray has various nightmarish hallucinations about that. We see that young Ray is starting to go blind from glaucoma and that worries his mother who, as painful at it is to watch, must allow him to learn how to get around while blind. Ray mentions that his mom died when he was away at a blind school as a boy. Ray states that his dad was never around and had two other families beyond his. Della finds Ray's drugs and isn't happy about that, leading to some marital discord between them. We see a flashback where young Ray is crying over his mom sending him away to a school for the blind. Della is mad at Ray again over his drug use. Della tells Ray that she knows of his affairs and fathering a child with Margie. Ray is never around for his family, such as his son's sports activities and more, and the boy and his mom are upset about that. Della threatens to leave Ray if he doesn't shape up and give up heroin. TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT The life and legend of Ray Charles and any artistic liberties taken with his story. Musicians and life on the road. Blindness and dealing with that. Being haunted by guilt-related incidents in one's past. Drug use, abuse and addiction. Affairs. Racism and segregation in the past. Ray is never around for his family, such as his son's sports activities and more, and the boy and his mom are upset about that. Ray states that God doesn't listen to people like him (referring to his blindness). VIOLENCE While accidental, young Ray's younger brother slips and falls into a large wash bucket where he drowns. Mad about not being paid his share by a manager, Ray scrambles over a table and jumps on the man, knocking him to the floor (others separate them). Mary Ann throws something into Ray's windshield, causing the latter to shatter (the car is parked and empty). Margie slaps Ray on the face after he tells her that she has to have an abortion. Orderlies have to physically restrain Ray and strap him to his bed during rehab. While in rehab, Ray violently overturns a card table. Reviewed October 26, 2004 / Posted October 29, 2004

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