great first half but drags on for too long

Rating: 6/10 (8 April 2005)

I have to say that the first half was fabulous and without going into the same comments that everyone has mentioned, Jamie Foxx is an utter and amazing revelation.
To be honest, I thought he acted his part in Collateral but Tom Cruise was the one I was routing for and provided the kick to the film. So I was shocked how life like Jamie Foxx was in this film. You felt that he felt he was in fact Ray Charles.
OK the film itself, well Despite it being based on true life incidents, there is an originality in the way it is pictured and directed. You would think that you already new how the film was going to shape up with a black blind musician at the healm. But you just didn't know.
On a less than positive note, the second half does become predictable and copy the same format of most films based on a star...drugs, women and more drugs and women. you also do feel the issue of Ray Charles ban in Georgia was far more interesting than Charles' demise yet it was not shown in the detail that it needed to be...especially when the end was based around it.
However, in saying all that Ray is a very accomplished film and if there is no other reason watch this film for Jamie Foxx's Performance.