Great music, great stories, great performance.
Comment
10/29/04
Ray (2004)
82
%
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:190
Fresh:155
Rotten:35
Average Rating:7.3/10
Consensus: Critics can't stop loving Jamie Foxx's performance in Ray, which is being hailed as an engrossing and energetic take on Charles' achievements and demons.
Theatrical Release:21-01-2005
Synopsis: Ray is the never-before-told, musical biographical drama of American legend Ray Charles. Featuring a remarkable performance from Jamie Foxx in the central role, Ray follows the inspiring story of a... [More]
Starring: Jamie Foxx, Regina King, Kerry Washington, Curtis Armstrong
Director: Taylor Hackford
Reviews for Ray
141 - 160 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Foxx completely disappears into the role, embodying the great man so much so that one instantly forgets it’s Foxx up there.
10/28/04
This is one of the great performances of the year. Foxx has the voice and mannerisms down pat.
10/28/04
Although this glittery film doesn't really break any new ground, it's still a nice tribute to a man who did.
10/28/04
But the movie belongs to Foxx, who should garner a best actor Academy Award nomination, if not the statue itself, for his astounding performance.
10/28/04
Ray does provide a sweet reminder of the power of Charles’s music, and if that’s all the film can really offer, that isn’t such a bad deal after all.
10/28/04
Couldn't we just watch a Behind-the-Music and get the same greatest hits package in 100-less minutes than another dry, maybe-worthy-for- movie-of-the-week- status, biopic?
10/28/04
I haven’t seen anything quite this mesmerizing since Daniel Day-Lewis in Gangs of New York.
10/28/04
The movie's two greatest strengths are Foxx's performance and Charles' music...but it never surmounts the biopic hurdles that separate stories from formulas.
10/28/04
Mr. Foxx's performance captures each nuance of character. His portrayal is an exalting tribute to a flawed, fascinating musical icon.
10/28/04
If Ray fails to present a genuine portrait of a complex man's essence, it does leave you with an even greater sense of awe for Charles' accomplishments, both in his personal and public lives.
10/28/04
Regina King's powerhouse performance as Marjorie 'Margie' Hendricks of Ray's backup group, The Raelettes, is a small classic.
10/28/04
To any poor soul who thinks Foxx wasn't indispensable to this movie: Hit the road, Jack.
10/28/04
With a relatively small budget to recover, Oscar nominations and year-end critical accolades a strong possibility, and Ray Charles' death this past June giving the film a special timeliness, it's hard to see how it can miss being a major hit.
10/28/04
The massaging of reality is to be expected, but it's what holds Ray back from being anything more than a standard entry in its genre.
10/28/04
Ray reveals Foxx for what he truly is: a gifted and immensely talented actor.
10/28/04
Its drama is often turgid, but its musical sequences are spectacular. And you couldn't ask for a better soundtrack.
10/28/04
Making a movie about anyone's life requires a director to make choices, and Hackford wasn't trying for a painstaking re-creation. Instead, he chose to focus -- like Charles himself -- on the soul.
10/28/04
(Foxx) seems bent on actually channeling the spirit of Charles... (and) good luck remaining firmly in your seat in the presence of a sensational soundtrack.
10/28/04
Ray turns out to be a proudly conventional film that combines an involving true story, irresistible music and a charismatic performance in a way that makes us not only forgive but actually almost relish how standard the presentation is.
10/28/04
Top CriticLatest News for Ray
October 07, 2009:
Jamie Foxx Plans Mike Tyson Biopic 
Does one good biopic deserve another? "Ray" star Jamie Foxx wants to reunite with director Taylor Hackford for a look at the life and times of Mike Tyson. More...
October 15, 2007:
Mirren and Pesci Saddling Up at Hackford's Love Ranch
Helen Mirren, Joe Pesci, and Taylor Hackford are headed to the Love Ranch. More...
December 29, 2006:
Kasdan, Apatow & John C. Reilly to Introduce "Dewey Cox"
How many musician-centric biopics do you have to sit through before you start clamoring for a nice juicy parody of the sub-genre? Well, one's on it's way, courtesy of director... More...
December 08, 2006:
The Weekly Ketchup: "Spider-Man 3" Teasers, "Pirates 3" Pics And Rumors, "Transformers" Images, And More!
In this week's Ketchup, we just can't get enough of those tidbits from the upcoming third installments of "Spider-Man" and "Pirates of the Caribbean" and the... More...
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