In a small, black, Florida community, a young boy goes blind, shortly after witnessing his brother drown. That boy is Ray Charles Robinson.
Ray Robinson would go to a school for the blind before stepping out on his own. He is a great piano player, and that's all he knows how to do, so he heads for the Music City, USA... ... ...Seattle.
It is here, in Seattle that Ray (Jamie Foxx) has a fortuitous meating with one Quincy Jones. Thought they would stay friends for life, they never did see much of each other. It was Quincy's connectiosn that helped Ray on his way to stardom.
In Seattle, Ray is introduced to a woman at a bar that puts people on stage. She knows Ray is exceptional, and so she uses Ray's musical genius to her advantage. Ray soon sees through her ploy and leaves Seattle for the bright lights of New York city. Here, he is contacted by Atlantic Records, who singns him to a contracts right on the spot. Changing his name to Ray Charles, it is here at Atlantic Records that the great Ray Charles begins his career.
But with money comes responsability, and Ray is anything but responsable. After becomming married, and while having a an affair or three while on the road, Ray, already hooked on heroin, delves even deeper into the world of narcotics. Ray hooks himself on dope that would blow that average man's mind.
But in order to become a truely great singer and save his own life, Ray must quit the heroin for once and for all. For Ray, this becomes a personal struggle that would last for twenty years.
The films plays fast and loose with some of the details of his life, but goes slow through the important ones. The picture is greatly enhanced by the exceptional supporting cast that compliments Foxx's Ray Charles. Sharon Warren, who plays Ray's mother, deserves an Oscar nod herself... she was excellent in her role.
The film, though, is all about Jamie Foxx's performance as Ray Charles. His acting is simply outstanding. There hasn't been a better Oscar calibre performace since Nicolas Cage in Leaving Las Vegas. Jamie has everything down pat: Ray's facial ticks; his over-zealous body movements, that unmistakeable bobbing he always exhibited; and even his personal dramatic side.
Jamie spent many hours with Ray before his passing in 2004, and it show that he really got into character. Ray is a career defining role for Jamie Foxx. Be proud, Jamie, you're in a very selective class.
Ray is a masterpiece. A modern day Amadeus. It deserved a best picture nomination, to be sure, and the Oscar for Jamie Foxx.
Plot: 
The film is a biopic on the life and times of musician Ray Charles, from his early days in Seattle to his drug abuse and philandering to becomming a world renowned pianist. The film does a great job telling Charles' story. It goes slow through his early/mid career and finishes up with his finally quitting heroin abuse cold turkey.
The film is the perfect length to tell Charles's story; the story ends shortly after he quit the drugs, and we don't really learn what happened to him after that save an important moment when he was allowed back into Georgia in 1979. There are no loose ends left over, and the story wraps itself up quite nicely.
Visual Effects:
There are many special effects throughout the film: a computer humming bird; Billboard Hot 100 charts showing his songs; spinning records and so on. These special effects are well done and greatly enhance the film by giving it "pizazz."
The cinematography is exceptional, as well. There are many types of camera movements, especially during the concert footage.
Sound:
There is no score, so to speak; all of the songs in the film are by Ray Charles, himself. A couple of Charles' own songs are well sung by Jamie Foxx, but for the most part, Ray's own singing was dubbed in over Jamie's incredible acting.
Character Development: 
From his humble beginnings to loosing his brother and sight, to his drug abuse and his quitting cold turkey, we really see a change in Ray Charles. Not just a little but huge!
We really don't learn much about any of the other people in Ray's life; we never do find out what happens to half of them. In fact, we only find out about his wife from the end credits. Although, it would have been nice to know what happened to some of the people who stayed by his side for many years.
Atmosphere:
The film starts out kind sad, but it picks up and isn't that sad after all. The picture tells a great story and any music aficionado would love this film even if only for Ray's own great music.
Realism: 
This film doesn't deserve to loose points in this catagory, but the film doesn't give you all the details of Ray's life. They don't mention that fact that he had twelve children with seven women, for example, or that his wife divorced him im 1977.
This film is your typical Hollywood biopic, and you can see the Hollywoodism ever-present throught the film. This doesn't take away from the film; what takes away points is the way in which some details of his life were skewed (as Hollywood tends to do in biopics.)
Warren’s Rating:
Movies it was nominated with for Best Picture:
The Aviator; Finding Neverland; Million Dollar Baby; Sideways
9.28/10 Is the movie worth your time to watch?
14-01-05
Age at win: 37
Nominated for: Best Actor in a Leading Role, Ray Charles, Ray
Nomination: 1/2 (acting), 1/2 (total); Win: Only
The film Ray, about the life of Music legend Ray Charles is all about Jamie Foxx's performance as the title character. His acting is simply outstanding. There hasn't been a better Oscar winning performace since Nicolas Cage's drunk Ben Sanderson in Leaving Las Vegas. Jamie Foxx captured Ray's every movement down to the last detail: his facial ticks, his over-zealous body movements, that unmistakeable bobbing he always exhibited and even his own personal dramatic side.
Jamie was simply amazing in his role. He studied Ray Charles. He learnt from him. Jamie not only captured the images of Ray, but he captured the very soul of the legend. Jamie actually wore eye pieces that made him blind for up to fourteen hours a day! Now that's dedication and attention to detail that wins awards. And it certainly paid off for Jamie Foxx!
28-02-05
