Go watch this movie. And buy the soundtrack.

Rating: 9/10 (22 January 2005)

I first noticed Jamie Foxx whilst half heartedly scanning the film channels trying to find a half decent film to watch. I flick onto a movie called "Held Up", a mediocre spoof movie about a hostage situation. Figured I'd never see any of those actors again, and I wouldn't have been any the worse for it.
Well you bet your, ahem, *foot*, that I'm glad Ray made the light of day. Jamie Foxx bears no resemblance to either his role in Held Up or Collateral (the only other movie I've seen him in) - he fills the role perfectly, he appears more like Ray Charles than he appears like himself.
But there's more to this film than the lead. The music for one is brilliant, absolutely brilliant, watching as Ray seems to reinvent himself constantly is a joy, moments of inspiration in both likely and unlikely times, and I couldn't help but be totally absorbed under the spell of the music; foot tapping, head nodding, finger clicking good. I'll be buying the soundtrack. Also interesting to know: Jamie Foxx actually played the piano himself during the musical scenes.
The really great element of the film, which, to me, really seems to separate it from just good to real good is the way it's spliced together. The dispersed flashbacks to Ray's childhood work very well in keeping the older Ray attached to his childhood side, adding almost an element of mystery, and in essence, starkly revealing the tragedy within Ray Charles's life. As well keeping the rhythm of the film flowing nicely, whereas they may have caused the film to lag had they all been clumped at the beginning. And in a film about the life of Ray Charles, what can be more important than rhythm?
It's a very stylised film; the title sequence sets things up in a very classy way, the black background and orange credits with close-ups of different instruments being played is delicious, the intercutting sequences between concerts and flashbacks/flashforwards revealing further elements to the story whilst the concert music constantly plays in the background really hits the spot.
What can I say?
How about four/five stars?
And maybe an Oscar for the lead?