New Release: Ray Blu-ray

Universal Studios Home Entertainment started 2011’s Black History Month with the Feb. 1 release of the Ray Charles biography drama Ray on Blu-ray.

Starring Jamie Foxx (Collateral) as the legendary blind singer, Ray follows Charles’ life from his childhood in poverty through his success in the early 1960s, his relationship with his mother, his wife and other women, and even his downfall to heroin addiction. Kerry Washington (Mother and Child), Regina King (Our Family Wedding) and Terrence Howard (Iron Man) also are in the movie.

The 2004, PG-13-rated film won two Academy Awards (sound mixing and best actor for Foxx’s performance) and was nominated for four others, including director and best picture).

The Blu-ray release was not the high-definition debut of Ray, as the movie was released on HD DVD in 2004. Neither did it have new special features, as the extras on the Blu-ray are the same as those on the two-DVD Limited Edition, except for Universal’s usual interactive Blu-ray features.

Here’s the full list of special features on the Blu-ray:

• introduction by director Taylor Hackford
• deleted scenes with commentary by Hackford
• extended musical scenes
• feature commentary by Hackford
• and featurettes:
  • “Stepping Into the Part”
  • “Ray Remembered”
  • “The Women of Ray“
  • “The Filmmakers Journey”
  • “Ray: An American Story”
  • and “A Look Inside Ray.”

The usual Blu-ray exclusives are:

• U-Control, featuring the music of Ray
• Pocket Blu app, which turns smartphones into remote controls
• My Scenes bookmarks
• and U-Hear, to avoid missing any of the words.

The Blu-ray was priced at $26.98.

Here’s the trailer for the film:

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