You would have to be "blind" to not see that this is one of the best films of the year!

Rating: 10/10 (5 January 2005)

I loved this movie!!!!! I, like countless others, found myself so engrossed in the movie that I actually thought it was Ray Charles! I always knew that Jamie Fox was a talented actor (when I saw him in "Ali" as Bundini Brown and he was more convincing than Will Smith), singer/musician, and comedian, but after I saw this movie I was more convinced then ever! When I first read he would be doing this movie I told my husband that he would nail this. He literally peered into the soul of this man and brought out everything that he was. Judging from the movie, Ray Charles was a tortured soul who finally faced his demons and got through it all without losing it all. He was portrayed as a savvy businessman who knew what he wanted without letting his handicap stand in his way although he let Joe Adams(played by Harry Lennix) cloud his judgment and manipulate his dealings with longtime friend and employee Jeff Brown(played by Clifton Powell). I also thought Regina King, Bokeem Woodbine, Kerry Washington, Aunjanue Ellis, Clifton Powell and Harry Lennix had stellar performances! I hope Jamie get's an academy award nomination for his performance because you would have to be "blind" to not see that this is one of the best movies of the year!