Jamie Foxx and Every Other Actor In This Film Make It GREAT!

Rating: 10/10 (11 February 2007)

I saw a Ray Charles concert in about 1966 or so in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Raelettes, the band, and Ray himself tore the house apart. Everybody was screaming, dancing, transported into musical ecstasy. This film didn't quite capture that feeling, but came very, very close.
Two scenes I really liked appeared back-to-back: When Margie Hendricks (Regina King) blasts out that "Night Time Is The Right Time" solo in the studio, with all her feeling directed right at Ray (Jamie Foxx), it's pure cinematic genius. And when Ray improvises the incomparable "Baby, It's All Right (What'd I Say)" for the first time... The way Fathead Newman (Bokeem Woodbine) and the band instantly come up with the perfect backup... The way the Raelettes fit right in with their three-part responses... Maybe it didn't happen just that way, but what a great scene! When that baritone sax slides in along the bass line, it brings me to tears, every time. Wow!
I have read a lot of the other comments. I find the negative ones unbelievable, all of them. Anyone failing to be moved by this film has a black, frozen heart!
On just the musical level alone, this is a great film. But the characters are portrayed with greatness, too, in my opinion. Jamie Foxx garnered the awards he should have... He is truly astounding in "Ray".
Ten out of Ten. And I don't hand out that rating lightly.