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Jamie Foxx, Kerry Washington, Regina King, Clifton Powell, Aunjanue Ellis ... see more see more... , Harry J. Lennix , Terrence Howard , Larenz Tate , Bokeem Woodbine , Sharen Warren , Curtis Armstrong , Richard Schiff , C.J. Sanders , Wendell Pierce , Chris Thomas King , David Krumholtz , Warwick Davis , Patrick Bauchau , Robert Wisdom , Denise Dowse , Thomas Jefferson Byrd , Rick Gomez , Kurt Fuller , Julian Bond , Kimberly Ardison , Renee Wilson , Willlie Metcalf , Mike Pniewski , Michael Pniewski , Terrone Bell , Richard A. Smith , Gary Grubbs , Carol Sutton , Bill Breaux , Alex Van , Roland "Bob" Harris , Tom Clark , Afemo Omilami , Elizabeth Omilami , Vernel Bagneris , Fahnlohnee R. Harris , Michael Travis Stone , Eric O'Neal Jr. , Tequan Richmond , Matthew Benjamin , John Swasey , James Huston , Marc Lynn , Kyle-Scott Jackson , Todd J. Smith , Rutherford Cravens , Darnell Williams , Jedda Jones , Jeffrey Galpin , Michael Arata , Estella Denson , Jeffrey Glapin , Derrick Simmons , David Hash , Ralph E. Tresvant , Sharon Warren

Directed by Taylor Hackford, this biopic profiles the life of legendary musician Ray Charles. Despite humble beginnings and the loss of his eyesight due to glaucoma at the age of six, Charles, depicte... read more read more...d by Jamie Foxx, would nonetheless become an icon in both the music industry and the civil rights era. While the film delves into his problems with drugs and women, the bulk of the story details his career; among the highlights of that career are 12 Grammy awards and 11 R&B chart-toppers, such as "Unchain My Heart," "Hit the Road, Jack," "Georgia," "Doin' the Mess Around," and "Hallelujah I Just Love Her So." Also among the cast are Larenz Tate as Quincy Jones, as well as Regina King, Kerry Washington, and Clifton Powell. Charles' son, Ray Charles Jr. helped produce the film. ~ Tracie Cooper, Rovi

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87% liked it

193,978 ratings

Critics

81% liked it

196 critics

PG-13, 2 hr. 28 min.

Directed by: Taylor Hackford

Release Date: October 29, 2004

Keywords: biography

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DVD Release Date: February 1, 2005

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Stats: 9,399 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (9,399)

  • TheDudeLebowski65
    December 14, 2011
    TheDudeLebowski65
    Taylor Hackford has crafted one of the best biopics of a musician since Clint Eastwood's Bird. Jamie Foxx gives the performance of his career in the lead role of Ray Charles. This is a well crafted biopic and there are some very strong performances alongside that of Jamie Foxx. R... read moreay is a superb film that has a near flawless plot, and great directing. Ray is one of the best biopics that I've seen in recent memory. Foxx's performance is just as solid as Joaquin Phoenix's performance of Johnny Cash in Walk the Line and Forrest Whitaker's performance of Charlie Parker in Bird. This is a solid film with an engaging dramatic story that recounts the fame and turmoil of one of the greatest musicians that ever lived. Jamie Foxx definitely delivered as Ray Charles, and of all his roles, this is his best role to date. Director Taylor Hackford paints a vivid portrait of Ray Charles' life and combined with Jamie Foxx' phenomenal acting, you have one unforgettable performance and film for that matter. This is an entertaining film that possesses some strong elements that the viewer simply can't ignore. The films imperfections forgive able because of Foxx's performance, he is what makes this film what it is, and his portrayal of Ray Charles is flawless, immaculate and unforgettable. I very much love to watch biopics, and Ray is a solid dramatic biopic that will please fans of Ray Charles as well as film fans. A must see if you're looking for a great drama film with strong performances.
  • harrycaul
    October 5, 2011
    harrycaul
    Occasionally slushy, perhaps a shade on the long side, but very well acted and solidly entertaining nevertheless. Certainly a better portrait of Ray Charles than one would've expected.
  • DreamExtractor
    August 7, 2011
    DreamExtractor
    A tremendous story on the best jazz singer ever, Ray Charles. Jamie Foxx stars in this and is his iconic role and the highlight of his career, and he deserved the oscar. The plot was a great journey through his life, and I felt the great feeling I had in Walk the Line, a sense ... read moreof happiness for these great musicians. The whole cast did great, but Foxx truly is the best. I enjoyed the great music that they re did with Foxx singing, and he truly was fantastic. One of the greatest biopic films ever, and one of my favs.
  • SirPant
    November 8, 2010
    SirPant
    I've always been a big fan of Ray Charles but apart from his music and and few interviews he did in the late eighties, I really didn't know that much about him. He was a bit of a rascal eh! I have to be honest, I though this was going to be another cliched biopic but I was pleasa... read morently surprised when it turned out to be pretty original. At first it seemed like it was going at around a month a second but Hackford wisely and masterfully uses flash-backs to his advantage. It has become somewhat of a template now but I guess if it ain't broke, don't bother fixing it! Jamie Foxx isn't an actor that I'm that enamoured by at the best of times but I was impressed with his performance here.
  • bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb1
    July 23, 2010
    bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb1
    B
  • danperry17
    February 16, 2009
    danperry17
    As in so many of his movies, Jamie Foxx outshines the film itself - a well-deserved Academy Award. It wasn't the greatest movie in some regards, particularly when trying to speak of Ray Charles's influence: being the first to fuse gospel and R&B, for example, is such a niche genr... read moree point that said so much less about the character than did the portrayal itself. The ending as well felt a bit like a "we ran out of flim" sort of moment, when the captioning covered about half his life in a sentence, but at the same time, I can see the staying power of this one: beautiful to look at, with great music and good acting, I wouldn't complain too loudly if I found myself watching it again.
  • deano
    February 8, 2009
    deano
    Although it is still drawn-out, this lovingly produced biography of singer-pianist Ray Charles plays more smoothly on film. Foxx's Oscar-winning title performance still dominates, helped by Charles's own hit recordings. This traces the performer's dirt-poor childhood, early blind... read moreness, cross-country touring, chart-topping success and long struggles with drug addiction. The leisurely set-up is badly served by a rushed finale that feels as though the filmmakers ran out of time. But the music, and a slick middle section, make this film thoroughly entertaining.
  • 76Majikat
    February 8, 2009
    76Majikat
    Slightly dissapointed in this, heard good things but found parts boring. Jamie Fox, however took a great part as Ray
  • puffchunk
    March 30, 2008
    puffchunk
    Basically another 'walk hard' movie about drugs and cheating on wives. Pretty great though.
  • CloudStrife84
    March 28, 2008
    CloudStrife84
    Jamie Foxx is perfect in the role as the legendary Ray Charles and it's no wonder he received an Oscar for his outstanding performance. Not only that, but the story and biopic of Ray's life and career was also quite interesting to behold, despite the fact that I've never really b... read moreeen into his style of music. With that in mind, it turned out to be a surprisingly pleasant (altough a bit overly long) journey of a movie, that you don't necessarily have to be a music lover to enjoy.

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Critic Reviews

Rex Reed
November 4, 2004
Rex Reed, New York Observer

Jamie Foxx's all-encompassing performance in the title role more than justifies the early Oscar gossip it has generated. Full Review

Andrew Sarris
November 4, 2004
Andrew Sarris, New York Observer

Eminently worth seeing. Full Review

David Denby
November 2, 2004
David Denby, New Yorker

Vibrantly intelligent and tough-minded.

Peter Rainer
October 31, 2004
Peter Rainer, New York Magazine

Sure, it's the Jamie Foxx breakout role. But the movie around it is so systematically 'inspirational' that it comes perilously close to sabotaging the breakout. Full Review

Desson Thomson
October 29, 2004
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

Foxx does what he's supposed to. He steals his own show. Full Review

Teresa Wiltz
October 29, 2004
Teresa Wiltz, Washington Post

To describe Foxx's performance here is to gush, and so gush we will. Full Review

Geoff Pevere
October 29, 2004
Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star

A sometimes wobbly blend of the ordinary and the amazing, Ray is nevertheless entirely engaging because of a remarkable central performance and a smartly lived-up-to promise. Full Review

Eleanor Ringel Gillespie
October 29, 2004
Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Jamie Foxx is incredible as musical giant Ray Charles. Full Review

Mick LaSalle
October 29, 2004
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

It takes all of five seconds, tops, to believe that Jamie Foxx is the young Ray Charles. Full Review

Joe Baltake
October 29, 2004
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee

Let's just give him his Oscar now and be done with it. Full Review

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    • Ray Charles: I like to hear a person just say 'It needed to be done' as opposed to a person saying 'It ain't my job'.
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