Ray (2004) 4K Review

Ray tells the story of one of music's most influential figures, capturing both his extraordinary talent and deeply personal struggles.

Born on September 23, 1930, in Albany, Georgia, Ray Charles Robinson would become a household name by the time he was 25 years old. Losing his eyesight (possibly from Glaucoma) by the time he turned 7, Charles attended the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind, where he learned to play several musical instruments, including piano. After his mother died in 1945, Charles left school and became a full-time musician. He is considered to be a pioneer of Soul Music, and many musicians consider him to be an influential force on their musical style. In 2004, Jamie Foxx (Collateral) won an Oscar Award for portraying Charles in the biographical film, Ray. This week, Kino Lorber is bringing the film to 4K for purchase.

The film chronicles Charles' life from his poor upbringing and the death of his younger brother George to his fame, fortune, marital affairs, and drug abuse. While the music plays a significant role in the movie, it is never really the focus, with director Taylor Hackford (An Officer and A Gentleman) and screenwriter James L. White instead choosing to let Charles' personal drama take center stage. They don't shy away from his volatile outbursts nor from his intense moments of vulnerability, both mainly fueled by his drug use and his notorious womanizer ways, which is part of the reason the film was nominated for six Academy Awards.

Part of what makes this movie so great is the incredible cast that Hackford assembled. Foxx is brilliant as the late, great musician, learning his speech patterns, as well as his physical movements. Joining Foxx are Regina King (If Beale Street Could Talk) as Margie Hendrick, one of Charles' many mistresses and the mother of one of his 12 children, and Kerry Washington (Scandal) as Della Be a Robinson, Charles' wife and mother of 3 of his kids. This trio is magnificent, giving the film the gravitas it deserves.

The 4K Dolby Vision video quality is superb, as the transfer is a scan of the original 35mm negative. Color saturation is deep and rich, and details are sharp and clean. There is little to no artifacting with this new version, and everything can be seen clearly. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 is only slightly disappointing. I would have thought Kino Lorber would have opted for Dolby Atmos audio quality since this soundtrack deserves to be heard in the best quality possible. Nevertheless, the dialogue and soundtrack are excellent and showcase Charles' musical brilliance nicely.

The combo pack includes the 4K disc and the Blu-ray Disc that houses about an hour's worth of extras. Most of the extras are ported over from previously released discs, with one new extra added to the mix. The extras include: NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historian and Author Dwayne Epstein, Audio Commentary by Director Taylor Hackford, Director's Introduction, Stepping Into the Part: Featurette, Ray Remembered: Featurette, The Women of Ray: Featurette, The Filmmakers' Journey: Featurette, Ray: An American Story: Featurette, A Look Inside Ray: Featurette, 14 Deleted Scenes (with Optional Director's Commentary), 9 Uncut Music Performances, and the Theatrical Trailer.

Ray Charles was a unique individual who endured a difficult upbringing to become a worldwide celebrated musician. He was also a tortured soul who struggled with his demons for at least a third of his life. This movie encapsulates everything Ray Charles Robinson was: a man, a father, and a musician, and it is done incredibly well.

Kino Lorber usually carefully chooses titles to remaster and then nurtures those titles to give audiences the full package. Ray is a perfect example of their dedication to quality and is well worth the purchase price.

Grade: B+