Ray

Name: Ray
Genre: Biography, Drama, Music
Released: October 29, 2004
Duration: 152 min
Rating: 73
Cast: Jamie Foxx, Kerry Washington, Regina King

2004

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 40 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 227 Ratings

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8.4

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8.4	User Score Universal acclaim based on 227 Ratings

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Ray

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Movie Details & Credits

Universal Pictures | Release Date: October 29, 2004 | PG-13

Starring: Jamie Foxx, Kerry Washington, Regina King

Summary: Ray is the never-before-told, musical biographical drama of American legend Ray Charles. Featuring Jamie Foxx in the central role, Ray follows the inspiring story of a one-of-a-kind genius. (Universal)

Director: Taylor Hackford

Genre(s): Biography, Drama, Music

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 152 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Michael Wilmington

A fit tribute to an entertainer who, no matter what hate or hardship threw in his way or how many mistakes he made, we can't stop loving. Read full review

Richard Corliss

If there were an Oscar for ensemble acting, Ray would win in a stroll. Read full review

Lou Lumenick

Contains large helpings of Hollywood schmaltz, stereotype and clich‚, but it's also pretty impossible to resist. Read full review

Mick LaSalle

Foxx's complex performance and the filmmaker's willingness to look at the dark side place Ray safely out of the realm of typical Hollywood hagiography. Read full review

Steven Rea

It's a shame about Ray, because Foxx is trapped in a movie that takes the music icon's unique story and turns it into cheesy, sentimental American Dream cliches. Read full review

David Ansen

It's hobbled by the too-familiar conventions of the musical biopic: with so many chapters of Charles's life to cover, Hackford's movie never finds a rhythm, a groove, to settle into. It wins its battles without winning the war.

Kim Morgan

For too many minutes of its two and a half hours, Ray flips through its cinematic pages with a breathless and-then-this-happened urgency, offering up little in the way of personality (or truth) beyond Jamie Foxx's strong performance. Read full review

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User Reviews

DogeGamer2015

Sep 5, 2021

Es una película excelente; la trama es muy buena y la actuación de Jamie Foxx es sublime; Ray Charles merece ser recordado.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

MrPajamas

Sep 7, 2020

I was just hanging out and watching TV when a film called Ray from 2004 started at that moment. I was fascinated by the film, so I kept watching. He watched and watched until I finally watched the whole movie and I must say that it was an absolute experience. I love dark stories in movies,I was just hanging out and watching TV when a film called Ray from 2004 started at that moment. I was fascinated by the film, so I kept watching. He watched and watched until I finally watched the whole movie and I must say that it was an absolute experience. I love dark stories in movies, and this one was perhaps the darkest I've ever seen. Excellent music and especially the excellent acting performance of Jamie Foxx, who played Ray himself here. I don't even think you need to like music for this movie. This film is a masterpiece and I definitely recommend you watch it.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Wavy_Yeezy

May 5, 2019

I would rate this just a 8, but Jamie Foxx's acting alone bumps it up 2 scores. His acting performance was the best I have ever seen in a movie. Nobody could've done better.

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

Paxster

Oct 16, 2010

One of the few films that has made me cry (and I have no pain in admitting that). Jamie Foxx is brilliant,the music is still brilliant and the directing is superb.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

ALAMLEDP

Jan 21, 2023

"Ray" is a powerful and moving biopic that delves into the unexpected achievements and intimate struggles of one of America's most beloved artists, Ray Charles. The film, nominated for Best Picture and earning Jamie Foxx an acting Oscar, offers more than just a glimpse of Charles' biggest"Ray" is a powerful and moving biopic that delves into the unexpected achievements and intimate struggles of one of America's most beloved artists, Ray Charles. The film, nominated for Best Picture and earning Jamie Foxx an acting Oscar, offers more than just a glimpse of Charles' biggest hits set against scenes from his life. The audience is given a deeper understanding of Charles' humble and tragic upbringing, his struggles with addiction and infidelity, and how his past shaped the rest of his life. Foxx's outstanding transformation into Charles is matched by the authentic performances of his co-stars, including Kerry Washington, Clifton Powell, and Regina King. The film is expertly crafted, keeping the audience engaged through the use of flashbacks, and offers a tribute to an imperfect but inspiring man who overcame the odds.
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"Ray" es una película biográfica poderosa y conmovedora que profundiza en los logros inesperados y las luchas íntimas de uno de los artistas más queridos de Estados Unidos, Ray Charles. La película, nominada a Mejor Película y que le valió a Jamie Foxx un Oscar a la interpretación, ofrece más que solo un vistazo de los mayores éxitos de Charles frente a escenas de su vida. La audiencia obtiene una comprensión más profunda de la crianza humilde y trágica de Charles, su lucha contra la adicción y la infidelidad, y cómo su pasado moldeó el resto de su vida. La extraordinaria transformación de Foxx en Charles se combina con las actuaciones auténticas de sus compañeros de reparto, incluidos Kerry Washington, Clifton Powell y Regina King. La película está diseñada por expertos, mantiene a la audiencia interesada mediante el uso de flashbacks y ofrece un tributo a un hombre imperfecto pero inspirador que superó las adversidades.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

NickH

Nov 20, 2005

Jamie Foxx may give a wonderful performance as Ray, but the movie on a whole isn't all that good. Outside of the character Ray, most of the dialouge is akwardly written. Regina King is the only one in the supporting cast who takes the script by the horns and really shines. Hackford, Jamie Foxx may give a wonderful performance as Ray, but the movie on a whole isn't all that good. Outside of the character Ray, most of the dialouge is akwardly written. Regina King is the only one in the supporting cast who takes the script by the horns and really shines. Hackford, while a decent director, didn't seem ready to go out and make this movie - the whole film has a sort of "made for TV" look about it. Sometimes I wonder that if Ray Charles hadn't died, would this movie have been so "amazing" to so many people? I doubt it, but Foxx and King would have still gotten the credit they deserved.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful

egovirus

Mar 18, 2013

Putting aside Charles' incredible body of music, and his impact on American (if not global) culture, I'm reviewing the movie, which is not a great one. I'm still pretty amazed, nearly a decade after this movie came out, how few people seem unperturbed by the degree of bad or over acting inPutting aside Charles' incredible body of music, and his impact on American (if not global) culture, I'm reviewing the movie, which is not a great one. I'm still pretty amazed, nearly a decade after this movie came out, how few people seem unperturbed by the degree of bad or over acting in this movie. Literally every single scene in this film has an example of it, and given the talent on call, the blame, as far as I am concerned, falls squarely on the shoulders of writer/director Taylor Hackford. Another issue I have is the editing/pace of dramatic scenes, which I found to be rushed, and therefore ineffectual. Perhaps laughably so. It's just hard to take this movie seriously at all, which is a big problem since it's so long. In it's rush to get to the end, the viewer is hustled along through Mr. Robinson's life like pilgrims through a museum with definite profit targets. Anything worth notice gets rushed, while everything that can be crammed in is. And then, at the end, we get crummy reading scenes that describe the rest of the movie. That's our reward for enduring this mess. More mess. In sum, "Ray" is overwrought, over-acted, corny, and too long.… Expand

0 of 6 users found this helpful06

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92	#92 Best Movie of 2004
80	#80 Most Discussed Movie of 2004
62	#62 Most Shared Movie of 2004