While Foxx is very good, there's more to it than the main character

Rating: 8/10 (14 April 2006)

I've seen this movie three times now, and it has still not grown weary to me. I have enjoyed it equally all three times which is rare for a movie. For me, I usually get tired of films after the second or third time, for whatever reason- not so with Ray.
This is probably because Ray is so interesting- it chronicles the very interesting life of a very interesting man. His background is interesting, his music is interesting, the people around him are interesting. Luckily, all this interesting material is treated very lovingly, but also very honestly. The movie does not downplay his addiction to heroin, and while it does not dedicate itself to all of Ray's female conquests on the road, the film shows enough of them to get the effect across to us.
Ray Charles is played by Jamie Foxx. Though I've seen many people comment that Foxx only captured the mannerisms and that his performance did not go deep enough, I disagree. Instead of just showing us a man who walked and talked strangely, Foxx injects real emotion into all of Charles's words and movements. His performance is more than just a caricature- it is a real portrait. He deserved the Best Actor Award- even though I was rooting for Don Cheadle, who was equally deserving for creating a man for us, rather than inhabiting one.
People say this is Foxx's movie, and to some extent, I have to agree. There is, however, the case of the superb supporting cast. Kerry Washington brings much dimension to the role of Ray's wife- there is one moment where Ray is crying because of the effects of his past mistakes; we see Washington move toward him, we see her wanting to comfort him because she still loves him despite all he's done, but no, she stops, because she is a strong woman and knows she can't help him. Regina King is just as impressive for her sassy performance as one of Ray's backup singers with whom he has an affair, and I also liked Sharon Warren as Ray's firm mother, even though I thought some of the flashbacks were the weakest parts of the movie- they were definitely not weak because of her.
Ray is a wonderful movie and deserves to be seen at least once by everyone, if only so that everyone can experience Ray Charles's turbulent life, his redemption, and his music.