It’s impossible to deny the power of the music; the genius and legacy of Ray Charles make for thoroughly cinematic material.

| Original Score: 6/10 | Feb 6, 2025

Jamie Foxx's astonishing performance is the big highlight and rightfully so, but Ray suffers like many musical biopics as the film takes too many dramatic liberties with real-life events and stretches out too many years.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Dec 25, 2024

It’s an inspired performance that creates a complex character out of the pop music legend.

| Apr 6, 2024

Overall, ... the filmmakers have taken the line of least resistance, fashioning a familiar, 'inspirational' American tale about a man who overcomes personal trauma and experiences individual success. There's little richness in that.

| Feb 15, 2021

The soul-stirring sounds of music legend Ray Charles keep saving the day for this straightforward, safe-bet biopic.

| Original Score: 3/5 | May 12, 2020

It's hard to think of a more artless film depicting such a talented artist.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Apr 19, 2020

RAY suffers from having not enough story to warrant a feature film and too much talent wasted on caricatures of historical figures. RAY, like last year's BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY, is too focused on homage rather than telling a convincing and stirring story.

| Original Score: 6/10 | Aug 19, 2019

Jamie Foxx as Charles proves again that he may just be one of the most interesting actors of his generation. A subtle mix of impression, pathos and rare presence, Foxx holds your focus even when the film begins to prevaricate.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Apr 23, 2019

A powerhouse performance piece for Jamie Foxx and a rock solid biopic.

| Original Score: 8/10 | Feb 5, 2011

Excellent portrayal of extraordinary musician.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Dec 28, 2010

Jamie Foxx is excellent, and sturdily supported by [James L.] White's script all the way.

| Original Score: 3.5/4 | Aug 25, 2010

I wanted excellent, but it's only mediocre.

| Apr 29, 2009

| Original Score: 5/5 | Aug 7, 2008

Ray is filled with such pleasures, but 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.

| Nov 1, 2007

| Original Score: 3.5/4 | Jul 14, 2007

Give Jamie Foxx the damn Oscar already, it's done.

| Original Score: A | Jun 21, 2007

Potent and vibrant as far as the music goes, but reticent, self-conscious and pretty much stuck on unexplored surfaces when it comes to this creative giant's complex life and times.

Full Review | May 16, 2007

The directing is sure-handed, the script intelligent, and the acting strong, especially the amazing performance from Foxx.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/4 | Oct 2, 2006

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| Original Score: 5/5 | Sep 10, 2006

| Original Score: 4/5 | Apr 1, 2006