It's essentially a biopic of two decades (1950s-1960s) in the life of Ray Charles, with flashbacks to his childhood.
Ray Charles Robinson (Jamie Foxx) became blind at the age of seven, soon after the tragic death of his younger brother in a drowning accident. His mother, Aretha (Sharon Warren), tried to prepare him for life as a blind individual in a world that would give him no breaks.
Ray is a gifted musician and plays piano with a variety of groups, before going on his own after learning he was being cheated of money by some of the early bands. The film follows his move from record label to record label, and the wide variety of music he plays, including jazz, blues, country, and gospel-influenced soul.
Much is made of Ray's sexual relationships with women, including his wife, Della Bea (Kerry Washington), and backup singers in his band, including Mary Ann Fisher (Aunjanue Ellis) and Margie Hendricks (Regina King). It also traces his journey with drugs, including heroin.
If the viewer doesn't have much knowledge of Ray Charles (he dropped the Robinson because of the boxer, Sugar Ray Robinson), the film may move too quickly and introduce too many characters. It does not avoid his complicated relationships with record companies, band members, and longtime associates. By avoiding the later decades of his life, it also avoided his decline in popularity.
As with many musical biopics, the strength of the movie is the music. Jamie Foxx is excellent as Ray. I think Sharon Warren and Regina King are strongest as the women in his life. Most of the record company executives are forgettable.
I learned a lot in watching the film, but a lot seemed to be missing as well, e.g. Ray Charles' first wife who is never mentioned in the movie.
Ray Charles Robinson (Jamie Foxx) became blind at the age of seven, soon after the tragic death of his younger brother in a drowning accident. His mother, Aretha (Sharon Warren), tried to prepare him for life as a blind individual in a world that would give him no breaks.
Ray is a gifted musician and plays piano with a variety of groups, before going on his own after learning he was being cheated of money by some of the early bands. The film follows his move from record label to record label, and the wide variety of music he plays, including jazz, blues, country, and gospel-influenced soul.
Much is made of Ray's sexual relationships with women, including his wife, Della Bea (Kerry Washington), and backup singers in his band, including Mary Ann Fisher (Aunjanue Ellis) and Margie Hendricks (Regina King). It also traces his journey with drugs, including heroin.
If the viewer doesn't have much knowledge of Ray Charles (he dropped the Robinson because of the boxer, Sugar Ray Robinson), the film may move too quickly and introduce too many characters. It does not avoid his complicated relationships with record companies, band members, and longtime associates. By avoiding the later decades of his life, it also avoided his decline in popularity.
As with many musical biopics, the strength of the movie is the music. Jamie Foxx is excellent as Ray. I think Sharon Warren and Regina King are strongest as the women in his life. Most of the record company executives are forgettable.
I learned a lot in watching the film, but a lot seemed to be missing as well, e.g. Ray Charles' first wife who is never mentioned in the movie.