"Ray" is a great tribute to a great entertainer, the legendary rhythm and blues singer Ray Charles. The movie traces Charles from his birth in 1930 until 1966, when he finally defeats his drug addiction and his life starts to turn around and grows happier.

Ray was born in a very poor family in rural Georgia and became blind at age 7, two years after the drowning death of his little brother. Through the flashbacks we get a dramatic picture of his childhood. As a young adult he rose gradually in the music world. Ray's addiction to drugs and women start to threaten his success. He beats the drug addiction but not women.

Women we meet in the movie are his wife Della Bea, played by Kerry Washington, Ann Fisher (Aunjanue Ellis) a blues singer and Margie Hendricks (Regina King), a member of his backup group, the Raelettes. From the film we get a feeling that Charles was honest about his womanizing and his women understood him perfectly. He was so attuned to the world around him and he established his own musical style after copying Nat "King"Cole and meeting young Quincy Jones (Larenz Tate). It is Ray's secret life of sex and drugs that deepens the drama. 

Jamie Foxx plays Ray Charles. He doesn't do the singing and it is Ray Charles on the soundtrack. Ray was deeply involved in the production of the film until his death in June 2004. Foxx masterfully recreates Ray's performance by lip synching Ray's songs. Foxx presents an exuberant performance by correctly enacting the musicians body language and mannerisms. Foxx's brilliant performance in the title role is worth an Oscar award. Director, Taylor Hackford, spins a very sympathetic tale of Ray Charles. He very well incorporate the movie and Ray's voice with his hit songs like "Georgia on my mind' and "I can't stop loving you".

It is worth seeing the film just for the musical extravagance. It is one of the best biographical movie ever made.

We rate this movie Good.