Movie Review: Ray

The thing I liked the best about “Ray” was the music. Coming a close second was the performance by Jamie Foxx. Foxx just makes us believe we’re watching Ray Charles and not an actor playing Ray Charles. His moves and mannerisms are down pat. The third good thing about “Ray” is a good supporting cast.
The plot of the biographical movie is a little too pat. Ray’s brother’s accidental death is featured and we’re to believe this was the foundation for drug addiction and infidelities. The story of his music was fascinating. The blend of gospel with the lust of R&B gave Charles his uniqueness. Most interesting was the problems many in audience had with using “the Lord’s music” in such a way. It made me wonder how something similar would go over in today’s society.
I do give credit to the film for showing some of the dark sides of Ray Charles. However the tie up at the end suggests the singer became clean, sober, and faithful for the remainder of his life. While he never took heroin again I believe he still drank and had a few other vices until his death. He divorced his wife in 1976.
Ray’s music and Jaime Foxx’s performance are the stars of this film. I would imagine some day there will be a good book written about his life.
The film gets a B.
The music an A plus