The 2004 biopic “Ray” transformed Jamie Foxx in the eyes of many from versatile funny man to an Oscar-level talent.
Suddenly, everyone learned the former “In Living Color” star studied the piano at Julliard and could do so much more than just killer impressions.
Who knew how Foxx could channel his gifts next?
But Foxx has yet to follow up “Ray,” out this week in an extras-laden Blu-ray release, with a role worthy of such raw potential.
The 43-year-old actor certainly gained access to some of the most promising projects in Hollywood in the wake of his Oscar triumph. The film version of the best seller “Jarhead” seemed a strong vehicle, even if Foxx nabbed only a supporting role. But the military drama lacked the urgency of past war films and disappointed at the box office. “The Kingdom,” one of the few modern films to directly tackle terrorism in bare-knuckled fashion, also left Foxx without much more than your standard action hero template.
And the less said about the abominable “Law Abiding Citizen,” the better.
His best post-”Ray” performance came in “The Soloist,” the 2009 movie which cast him as a homeless man with a remarkable knack for music. The film reeked of Oscar bait, but the story ended up being trite.
Foxx hasn’t restricted his energies to film since 2004. He’s developed a radio channel for SiriusXM and scored as a solo R&B crooner. But we’re still waiting for him to snare a role as impressive as his recreation of the legendary Ray Charles.
(Photo art: Jamie Foxx rose to fame as a comic actor, but his turn in the 2004 film “Ray” proved he was capable of so much more.)
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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
The Kingdom was a good accurate movie, Jarhead was a biased factually inaccurate rendition of the military.
From what I have heard Jamie became really difficult to work with after Ray was successful. He gained a major attitude and pissed a few people off. I think that could be why his roles have become less. I call it the Tom Cruise syndrome, Will Smith caught it and now it has enfected Jamie.
Jamie Foxx is not alone. I can’t think of any really good movies Adrien Brody and Forrest Whittaker have done since winning Oscars.
Hollywoodland was an excellent movie, Paula. But with that excepted, you’re right, neither Brody nor Whittaker have capitalized on their successes.
Brody and Whitaker are great co-examples. It’s often not the actors’ fault. There simply aren’t many great roles around. But with Foxx, he seemed capable of doing just about anything after “Ray.”:
I hope he can find another role worthy of him … and that he gets his ego in check (if that’s the real story)
Jarhead was a biased factually inaccurate rendition of the military.
Jarhead was a JOKE! If anyone had spent one day in the military they would have known that Jarhead was worthless! As a book, and as a movie.
Oh! all the long standing background jokes about what it is to be a Marine just HAPPENED to happen to THAT guy!!!
That movie never should have been made.
@ Douglas
I agree with you, I especially liked the part where they show an A-10 strafe and kill a whole group of American soldiers during Desert Storm and nothing like that happened in reality. The whole movie was nothing but an anti-war documentary.
>>I can’t think of any really good movies Adrien Brody and Forrest Whittaker have done since winning Oscars.>>
What, you missed them together in the direct-to-video The Experiment? It’s OK, considering it looked even worse than No Escape, I think everyone did.