MOVIE - RAY - Review Rating $$$$$ $$$ (OUT OF 10)

STARRING - Jamie Foxx (Ray Charles), Kerry Washington (Della Bea Robinson), Regina King (Margie Hendricks), Larenz Tate (Quincy Jones), Bokeem Woodbine (Fathead Newman), Sharon Warren (Aretha Robinson), Curtis Armstrong (Ahmet Ertegun), Warwick Davis (Oberon) & Richard Schiff (Jerry Wexler).

DIRECTOR/CO-WRITER - Taylor Hackford

Ray Charles's energy and pure talent shine brightly in this moving biographical tribute that is honest enough to document his womanizing and heroin abuse.

Honesty isn't the equivalent of depth, however, and after watching "Ray" you may leave the theater feeling you still don't know the man, or those who shared his life, very well. Demons and distrust permeate the story and contradict the public image but they fail to fully convey the person. Ray's harsh coldness, at times, is displayed without being adequately explored. There is an underlying hard done-by bitterness, that runs through a life of otherwise unparalleled success, that is worthy of further retrospection.

Jamie Foxx (Collateral), who is a classically trained pianist, gives his second brilliant performance this year and deserves the Oscar for this role. This comedian is a great serious actor.

"Ray" the movie isn't as brilliant as Ray the man but its does do him justice.

Running time - 152 minutes

Alternative Reviews:

Roger Ebert's Review

Peter Travers / Rolling Stone Review

Rotten Tomatoes Reviews

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