Discover new kitchen selections
Add Prime to get Fast, Free delivery
Amazon prime logo
Buy new:
$7.03
FREE delivery Saturday, June 7 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Ships from: Amazon
Sold by: BT Enterprises Inc.
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
FREE delivery Saturday, June 7 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Or Prime members get FREE delivery Wednesday, June 4. Order within 3 hrs 50 mins.
Arrives 11 days before Father's Day
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
$$7.03 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$7.03
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
Amazon
Amazon
Ships from
Amazon
Returns
30-day refund/replacement
30-day refund/replacement
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
FREE delivery Monday, June 9 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Arrives 6 days before Father's Day
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
$$7.03 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$7.03
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.

Ray (Widescreen Edition)

Jamie Foxx (Actor), Regina King (Actor), Taylor Hackford (Director, Producer) Rated:
PG-13
Format: DVD
4.8 out of 5 stars 6,638 ratings
IMDb7.7/10.0
$7.03
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime
FREE Returns
Additional DVD options Edition Discs
Price
New from Used from
DVD
January 23, 2007
Original Theatrical Version
1
$8.82
$4.49 $1.49
DVD
February 1, 2005
DVD
2
$7.51
$2.96 $0.86
DVD
February 1, 2005
DVD
2
$7.03
$3.15 $1.44
Watch Instantly with Rent Buy
Ray $3.79 $14.99
{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$7.03","priceAmount":7.03,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"7","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"03","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"1Q5ybLySUzyc2YogNQIIguRGn56tn%2FU9rLwfr8DzJSEy7aTgQD8lFXsNXb8Qh7QWwLPt7cKLYIT2ze3XnXBNFp0xBRWfbQKIi0hmImiKN4Mwl7MV1swEsH%2FIuKUG9i6qedf0EPSn7XSI8k1hmXx%2FeOcCDn1IF4yN2i2VBsIVxp7rezNjjbJVww%3D%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}, {"displayPrice":"$3.66","priceAmount":3.66,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"3","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"66","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"1Q5ybLySUzyc2YogNQIIguRGn56tn%2FU9%2BdkI1zTz4TDagv1PIQFUWVHVbff7aqjCp2yNV4ex1nHaQo77DkyUDlUHLhijHg0orXz10nKCQn8urLwKtGJWLRltGJMptqWgNq2C2c3yo8TbwPLKOez%2BaVItXH%2FPdmpUaGiL%2FVTuuPN8YGj%2FmV9VtETkSqtSYgDF","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":1}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

Genre Drama, DVD Movie, Unchain My Heart, Ray Charles, Blu-ray Movie
Format Color, Multiple Formats, AC-3, Subtitled, Dolby, Widescreen, Dubbed, NTSC
Contributor Clifton Powell, Terrence Howard, Howard Baldwin, Richard Schiff, Sharon Warren, Karen Baldwin, Scott Millan, C.J. Sanders, Stuart Benjamin, James L. White, Steve Cantamessa, Jamie Foxx, Kerry Washington, Bokeem Woodbine, Sharen Davis, Paul Hirsch, Curtis Armstrong, David Krumholtz, Taylor Hackford, Aunjanue Ellis, Greg Orloff, Regina King, Bob Beemer, Larenz Tate, Harry Lennix See more
Language English
Runtime 2 hours and 33 minutes
Available at a lower price from other sellers that may not offer free Prime shipping.

Frequently bought together

Ray (Widescreen Edition)
This item: Ray (Widescreen Edition)
$7.03
Get it as soon as Saturday, Jun 7
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
Sold by BT Enterprises Inc. and ships from Amazon Fulfillment.
+
Cadillac Records
$6.39
Get it as soon as Monday, Jun 16
Sold by My Comic Planet LLC and ships from Amazon Fulfillment.
+
Dreamgirls (Full Screen Edition)
$7.56
Get it as soon as Saturday, Jun 7
In Stock
Sold by QUICK CLIX and ships from Amazon Fulfillment.
Total price: $00
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Details
Added to Cart
Some of these items ship sooner than the others.
Show details Hide details
Choose items to buy together.

Product Description

Product Description

Jamie Foxx (Collateral) stars as the one-of-a-kind innovator of soul who overcame impossible odds to become a music legend. Ray is the triumphant and remarkable story of one of America's true musical geniuses, Ray Charles. From his humble beginnings in the South through his meteoric rise to the top of American music charts, Ray's inspirational journey is a tale of hope, redemption and the power of the human spirit. "Ray is Electrifying" hails Peter Travers of Rolling Stone. Witness the incredible true story of a musician who fought harder and went further than anyone could imagine.

Bonus Content:

  • Extended Version of the Film
  • Feature Commentary with Director Taylor Hackford
  • Deleted Scenes
  • Extended Musical Scenes
  • Stepping into the Part
  • Ray Remembered
  • A Look Inside Ray
  • Trailer
  • Cast and Filmmakers

Amazon.com

Jamie Foxx's uncannily accurate performance isn't the only good thing about Ray. Riding high on a wave of Oscar buzz, Foxx proved himself worthy of all the hype by portraying blind R&B legend Ray Charles in a warts-and-all performance that Charles approved shortly before his death in June 2004. Despite a few dramatic embellishments of actual incidents (such as the suggestion that the accidental drowning of Charles's younger brother caused all the inner demons that Charles would battle into adulthood), the film does a remarkable job of summarizing Charles's strengths as a musical innovator and his weaknesses as a philandering heroin addict who recorded some of his best songs while flying high as a kite. Foxx seems to be channeling Charles himself, and as he did with the life of Ritchie Valens in La Bamba, director Taylor Hackford gets most of the period details absolutely right as he chronicles Ray's rise from "chitlin circuit" performer in the early '50s to his much-deserved elevation to legendary status as one of the all-time great musicians. Foxx expertly lip-syncs to Ray Charles' classic recordings, but you could swear he's the real deal in a film that honors Ray Charles without sanitizing his once-messy life. --Jeff Shannon

More on Ray Charles


Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music (CD)


The Genius of Ray Charles (CD)


Ray Charles and Betty Carter--Dedicated to You (CD)


Genius & Soul--The 50th Anniversary Collection (CD)


Ray: A Tribute to the Movie, the Music, and the Man (book)


More Albums by Ray Charles

Product details

  • Aspect Ratio ‏ : ‎ 1.85:1
  • Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
  • MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned)
  • Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.75 x 5.75 x 0.5 inches; 3.84 ounces
  • Item model number ‏ : ‎ CVGT-DV77
  • Director ‏ : ‎ Taylor Hackford
  • Media Format ‏ : ‎ Color, Multiple Formats, AC-3, Subtitled, Dolby, Widescreen, Dubbed, NTSC
  • Run time ‏ : ‎ 2 hours and 33 minutes
  • Release date ‏ : ‎ February 1, 2005
  • Actors ‏ : ‎ Jamie Foxx, Regina King, Kerry Washington, Clifton Powell, Harry Lennix
  • Dubbed: ‏ : ‎ French
  • Subtitles: ‏ : ‎ Spanish, French
  • Producers ‏ : ‎ Taylor Hackford, Stuart Benjamin, Howard Baldwin, Karen Baldwin
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English (Dolby Digital 5.1), French (Dolby Digital 5.1), Unqualified
  • Studio ‏ : ‎ Universal Studios Home Entertainment
  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00005JND5
  • Writers ‏ : ‎ James L. White
  • Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 2
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 out of 5 stars 6,638 ratings

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
6,638 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers
Write a customer review

Customers say

Customers consider this movie a classic with Jamie Foxx delivering the greatest acting performance of all time. The film features fantastic music, with one customer noting its influence as one of the most influential artists in jazz history. They find it entertaining and powerful, with one review highlighting its intimate portrayal of Ray Charles' life. The movie receives positive feedback for its quality, value, and ability to capture the soul of the artist.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more

Movie qualityActingMusic qualityEntertainment valuePerformance qualityQualityValue for moneyUplifting story
276 customers mention "Movie quality"276 positive0 negative

Customers praise the movie's quality, describing it as a classic with a good story. One customer considers it one of the top 10 all-time biography movies ever made.

"Excellent movie" Read more

"...Journey , The Woman of Ray and Ray and American Story , Ray is an Excellent Movie for a Great Price ." Read more

"...I LOVED this movie! First time I saw it was 12/25/2022. This movie is great! It will make you cry, laugh and sing! Triple whammy...." Read more

"...Yes, it was a compelling arc to have in a general sense, but it's something that's been played out a little bit too much, in my opinion...." Read more

113 customers mention "Acting"111 positive2 negative

Customers praise the acting in the film, particularly Jamie Foxx's portrayal of Ray Charles, describing it as the greatest performance of all time.

"...A film directed and intro by Taylor Hackford with an Excellent performance by Cast especially Jamie Foxx did such a great job acting and playing..." Read more

"...of the plot and story, I had a great time with RAY because of the talented actors who brought it to life, and the energetic and soulful musical..." Read more

"...Very talented man. He achieved more in his lifetime as a blind man than many sighted people. Got to give him credit. Enjoyed it." Read more

"It was a compelling story with a great soundtrack and great acting." Read more

55 customers mention "Music quality"55 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the music in the movie, praising its magnificent sound and fantastic performances, with one customer highlighting the great piano playing and another noting the talent for producing hit songs.

"...If there is a better biopic of a musical legend, I haven’t yet seen it." Read more

"The movie Ray Charles is musically explosive! Great movie. Ray had a sad childhood. And his mother died way too young...." Read more

"...talented actors who brought it to life, and the energetic and soulful musical numbers...." Read more

"It was a compelling story with a great soundtrack and great acting." Read more

50 customers mention "Entertainment value"50 positive0 negative

Customers find the movie entertaining, with one describing it as invigorating to watch, and many noting it's an amazing and remarkable film with a powerful story.

"The Quality. Entertaining & informative." Read more

"...This movie is great! It will make you cry, laugh and sing! Triple whammy...." Read more

"...The 4 minute scene that follows is so spiritually powerful. It just makes the whole movie for me." Read more

"One of the interesting and unique remarkable storyline by the greatest artist in the early 50's Ray Charles...." Read more

28 customers mention "Performance quality"24 positive4 negative

Customers praise the performances in the movie, particularly Jamie Foxx's, with one customer noting the quick pacing.

"...For me, the performance scenes work better because Jamie Foxx was able to capture a realness and immediacy that comes from someone who is intimately..." Read more

"Good performance by Jamie Fox" Read more

"...There was a lot of actors and actresses I've seen. Great performances and roles by Jamie Foxx, Kerry Washington, Clifton Powell, Warwick Davis,..." Read more

"“Ray” is a compelling drama chock-full of some of the best performances of 2004...." Read more

26 customers mention "Quality"22 positive4 negative

Customers praise the movie's quality, noting it arrives in perfect condition, with one customer highlighting its ingenuity in construction.

"The Quality. Entertaining & informative." Read more

"...is the quality of the performances and the ingenuity with which they are put together, and RAY certainly stands out from the rest thanks in..." Read more

"It's well made and I've seen this movie at the theater and it's something I'll watch over and over again periodically." Read more

"...The story is heartwarming, and shows what a strong person he was, through and through. This is my second DVD. I wore out the first...." Read more

25 customers mention "Value for money"25 positive0 negative

Customers find the movie to be a great value, appreciating its excellent extras, with one customer specifically mentioning the 1080p copy for a few bucks.

"...when first released from Amazon and now again on Blu Ray for an Excellent price just under $ 8 dollars and recently upgraded to a 65 inch Sony 4K TV..." Read more

"...I've been getting these movies on HD for a very good price is one reason I've been buying on HD instead of Blue-Ray...." Read more

"one of my favs! well done and worth a watch" Read more

"...And the bonus features are terrific and plentiful...." Read more

22 customers mention "Uplifting story"22 positive0 negative

Customers find the movie's story uplifting, capturing the soul of the man brilliantly, with one customer noting how it focuses on the positive aspects of his life.

"...premiere, missing both by mere months: making it an incidentally well-timed eulogy that is quite simply doing its best...." Read more

"...Reveal the old film for what it is...old film. But the rest of the movie does benefit greatly...." Read more

"COMPLEX AND EXCITING, SAD AND INSPIRTING. INTIMATE SCENES FROM HIS LIFE AND CONCERTS...." Read more

"The movie focuses on the positive (overcoming) and brushes over the negative (drug use/arrogance) but it takes you on the journey through Ray's life..." Read more

Ray
5 out of 5 stars
Ray
An extremely good biopic. Jamie Foxx is outstanding as Ray Charles.
Hide
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from the United States

  • Angela Baldwin
    5.0 out of 5 stars Loved
    Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Excellent movie
    Helpful
     Report
  • L J
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Movie!
    Reviewed in the United States on February 12, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    The Quality. Entertaining & informative.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Nancy P.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Loved
    Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Have watched many, times. It's fabulous
    Helpful
     Report
  • Dad of Twin Sons
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great film. You won’t believe Jamie isn’t actually Ray.
    Reviewed in the United States on July 10, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Rarely as in “Ray” does a movie transport the viewer this deep into the visceral experience of the arc of a talented, but tempted and troubled genius from origin to discovery, success, decline, failure, redemption, and finally to legacy. I’m sure it took nothing short of the most talented screenwriters and production artists to make it happen, but it wouldn’t have happened without the deservedly Oscar-winning performance of Jamie Foxx as Ray Charles. If there is a better biopic of a musical legend, I haven’t yet seen it.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • lou scrobogna
    5.0 out of 5 stars Ray : Blu Ray .
    Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Ray is a 2004 film based on the true story of Rhythm & Blues Musician Ray Charles Robison raised on a sharecropping plantation in Northern Florida and went blind at the age of 7 shortly after seeing his younger brother drowning in a small washing tub , inspired by his hard working mother who insisted he makes his own way into the world and learned piano at an early age from a local and grew up to be a pretty good piano , keyboard player touring chitlin circuit till he gained a reputation making it world wide playing and singing classics that are played on the radio today : Rhythm & Blues , Jazz , Rock & Roll , Gospel and Country .

    I bought the DVD when first released from Amazon and now again on Blu Ray for an Excellent price just under $ 8 dollars and recently upgraded to a 65 inch Sony 4K TV with an Excellent picture , A film directed and intro by Taylor Hackford with an Excellent performance by Cast especially Jamie Foxx did such a great job acting and playing the piano just like the real Ray with special features and interview with the real Ray and Jamie Fox with complete music performances from the movie including Ray & Raelettes performing Hit The Road Jack , Stepping into the part , A revealing look at Jamie Foxx's transformation into Ray Charles including a Jam session between the actor and the real Ray , Ray Remembered : Friends & Fellow musicians remember Ray Charles . Feature commentary with director Taylor Hackford , A look inside Ray , The Filmmakers Journey , The Woman of Ray and Ray and American Story , Ray is an Excellent Movie for a Great Price .
    7 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Christina Reynolds
    4.0 out of 5 stars A Biopic That Is Clearly Doing Its Best (And J. Foxx Nails It!)
    Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    My rating is more of a 3.5
    Thanks for reading!

    𝑨𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒆.
    𝑵𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒏𝒐𝒃𝒐𝒅𝒚 𝒐𝒓 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒏𝒐 𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒑𝒑𝒍𝒆

    Ray is a 2004 American biographical musical drama film focusing on 30 years in the life of rhythm and blues musician Ray Charles.The independently produced film was co-produced and directed by Taylor Hackford, and written by James L. White from a story by Hackford and White. It stars Jamie Foxx in the title role, along with Kerry Washington, Clifton Powell, Harry Lennix, Terrence Howard, Larenz Tate, Richard Schiff and Regina King in supporting roles.

    Partially due to inevitable time constraints and the need for a reasonable center of contact: it is not uncommon for biopics to sacrifice the representation of key figures in an individual’s life that might better contextualize an ongoing pattern of behavior.
    Despite what impression 𝑹𝒂𝒚 might want viewers to get from watching, Charles’ upbringing was curdled with controversy and child-rearing methods that weren't necessarily the most consistent. Prior to being born his biological mother, Aretha, was informally adopted by a Bailey Robinson and his wife, Mary Jane.
    Aretha was impregnated by Bailey a few years afterwards when she was fifteen, and this scandalous affair ended with a temporary migration to Albany, Georgia from Greenville, Florida so she could be with family; she returned to Florida shortly after Ray was born on September 23, 1930.
    Bailey abandoned his family for the purposes of marrying another woman elsewhere before Ray was even a year old, and Mary Jane remained involved as a parental figure as much as she could because around this time she had also lost a son of her own. It is noted that as far as ‘indulgences’ go Aretha was much less likely to spoil Ray than Mary Jane, but the former went to great lengths to seek out resources in her community that could better assist her son because his vision started to deteriorate when he was about four and was completely gone by the time he was seven. Help would be provided in the form of the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind (FSDB) in St. Augustine, and this was particularly valuable as a tuition-free option that was willing to accept a blind African American pupil. 𝑹𝒂𝒚, while it teases the versatility of Charles as a master of composition, somehow still undermeans his aptitude and his experiences as a student there that shaped his abilities: it is true that Ray was partial to the piano and played it the most often, however, while in attendance at FSDB from 1937 to 1945 he also learned how to proficiently play the alto, saxophone, clarinet, and trumpet.

    𝑹𝒂𝒚 very intentionally chooses to focus on the death of a younger brother, George, as a trauma that would follow Charles through the entirety of his adult life, and given its theatrical appeal is a justifiable decision (Though, it should be said, that Ray tried to save George and didn’t just idly witness his drowning) though the death of Aretha (From a heart attack) has been recalled as much more devastating for him. It was so calamitous, in fact, that her death made Charles decide to drop out of school (Something that doesn’t go mentioned in 𝑹𝒂𝒚 as even a point of irony, since he was sent away to FSDB for educational purposes) and pursue a career as a musician using whatever resources were found to be at his disposal.
    Ignoring for the extent to which recreational substance use was normalized by his peers, missing in 𝑹𝒂𝒚 are internalized components that might better inform audiences as to what Charles thought he had to gain from the use of mind-altering substances: mainly, heroin and marijuana. Besides its likely use as a way of coping with the loss of Aretha and George, Charles always faced immense pressure to be the “trendsetter” regardless of who he performed with, and it speaks volumes that when asked about his ‘creative process’ throughout the years that Ray would attribute much of his ingenuity to intoxication in some measure. Even after quitting the use of heroin successfully he didn’t become some poster child for sobriety, as the last half of his life he was known to be a heavy drinker and functioning alcoholic.
    Just speaking on the sensitivity it requires, it makes total sense that 𝑹𝒂𝒚 is particular about the scenes within it that involve drug use as they could paint a less-than respectable image. That said, it is much too eager to be pivoted by some stroke of redemption as illustrated by the truth about two key interactions in its screenplay. Firstly, the death of Margie Hendricks (Which happened about ten years after what is depicted) was not found to be definitely caused by an overdose, but was rather more prone to gossip or speculation than suggested as an autopsy was never performed on her. Secondly, his eventual commitment to rehab was more-so influenced by a desire to avoid being incarcerated as opposed to any involving the well-being of his own family.
    (#Funfact: Outside of the obvious complication that might come with being honest about Charles’ substance use in general - ie, the incidental glorification of it - Hackford wanted to do more with this element specifically but an unexpected demand made doing so impossible. Producer Anschutz (One of the few people that wanted to provide financial assistance to begin with) demanded that 𝑹𝒂𝒚 be appropriate enough to acquire a PG-13 rating, and this reduced the degree to which they could even be a topic of conversation)

    Given Charles' blindness in combination with his compromised education it is perhaps easy to suggest he was in a position to be exploited early on in the context of business-related arrangements, but predatory management proved to be the least of his concerns, if not much less than what 𝑹𝒂𝒚 insulates to have been the case.
    To be a performer during the time Charles became known was to knowingly play along with the Jim Crow tune as race relationship played a significant role in employment opportunities, and with it came a certain amount of social responsibility that could be ignored by privileged individuals for monetary gain.It is true that Charles refused to play (When it was requested he do so via a telegram from a Civil Rights group) a specific event that took place in Augusta, Georgia in 1961 upon finding out its audience would be segregated, but neglected is emphases on the fact that he was one of the 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 performers to openly defy such practices. This inspired and set a very clear precedent for highly-requested performers that weren’t even from the United States that traveled there (IE, The Beatles) to do the same.
    Additionally, Ray was never actually officially banned from playing in the state of Georgia after this event though it did result in a lawsuit, and this made him feel “unwelcome” for some time after the fact. Consequently provided by that would be room for 𝑹𝒂𝒚 to explore the psychological effect of being ‘betrayed’ by his birth place even if Charles really did receive an official apology for this happening via public ceremony in 1979.

    All things considered, 𝑹𝒂𝒚 manages to hold its own head over water with a bit of testimonial appeal, focusing on key moments of his life where a song could be a hypothetical response to distress though the circumstances surrounding their creation is obviously much more nuanced. Ray’s eventual success was intimately tied to his knowledge that concerns the combination of various sounds: something that empowered him to mix genres in a novel manner as he knew how to play to the strengths of music that had already been produced so as to modernize its flow to a larger audience.
    Though it likely could have, Foxx’s performance does not feature his own vocals (All of the singing heard is Ray’s with Foxx pantomiming to a tee), but his commitment by way of impression is really only the tip of the iceberg; he was fitted with prosthetics that essentially kept his eyes glued shut on set for what was sometimes fourteen hours at a time, and all of the piano playing (So, playing done while his eyes would have been prevented from opening) is his own.

    It need not be said that mainstream biopics really shouldn’t be taken at face value to begin with, and their containability is a side-effect of deception that can serve a greater purpose. For all that it is worth, Charles himself was asked for his opinion about 𝑹𝒂𝒚’s screenplay prior to the start of its production, and with the exception of two scenes that he asked be omitted he approved it as glossed memorabilia that he hoped could be used as another way to remember him after his eventual passing.
    Ray’s artistic influence continues to live on in musicians whose styles vary broadly, and a glance into the more turbulent years of his life with a topical generosity may be the very least he deserves, after all. Ray Charles died on June 10th, 2004 as a result of liver failure (Which can be linked to his heavy drinking, as mentioned earlier), commenting shortly beforehand that if he had known he would live longer than he had expected to he would have taken better care of himself.
    Unfortunately, he was subsequently unable to be present during the final screening of 𝑹𝒂𝒚 and its official premiere, missing both by mere months: making it an incidentally well-timed eulogy that is quite simply doing its best.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Reba
    5.0 out of 5 stars Ray Charles is Explosive!
    Reviewed in the United States on December 27, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    The movie Ray Charles is musically explosive! Great movie. Ray had a sad childhood. And his mother died way too young. She didn’t get to see her son become successful nor did she get to enjoy his prosperity. Nothing is more sad. No wonder he ended up using drugs to try to escape his deep seated pain! He ended up marrying a great Christian woman. I LOVED this movie! First time I saw it was 12/25/2022. This movie is great! It will make you cry, laugh and sing! Triple whammy. I grew up in San Francisco and saw RC live in the city I was born in and love. Jamie Foxx and Kerry Washington should have won an Academy Award for great acting! Ray Charles will always be the “King of Blues & Gospel!” He had God given talent. Like the best of us singers.
    Helpful
     Report
  • BRENDALYN GARDNER
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great job by Jaime Foxx
    Reviewed in the United States on August 30, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Jaime WAS Ray! The best biopic I have ever seen!
    Helpful
     Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • Mr. Stephen Kennedy
    5.0 out of 5 stars Oustanding movie - instant classic
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 16, 2006
    Verified Purchase
    It took me a long time to finally get round to watching 'Ray'. The wait was well worth it - this is a terrific biopic - but not just a biopic, this is an outstanding movie on any terms.
    Whether a fan or not (I wasn't) most everyone will be aware at some level of Ray Charles' music. He's made that big an impact. This movie endeavours to show two periods of his life. The principal part of the movie follows his rise to fame, and corresponding fall into drug use and infidelity, climaxing in his redemption, kicking the habit, and recommitting his lfe as a husband and an entertainer. The second strand is told in flashback, showing Ray as a boy, before and during the process of him becoming blind - explaining (perhaps a little too neatly for some peoples taste) his need to escape into drugs, and how he managed to overcome the constraints of blindness with the help of his mothers tough guidance. His mother is clearly the key character in his life, teaching him firmly but with love how to enhance his sense of hearing and touch in order to compensate for his blindness. His mothers words echo frequently through the movuie when she says, 'Always remember your promise to me. Never let nobody or nothing turn you into no cripple.'. These two tales interweave almost seamlessly, showing not just the facts but the effects on the older man of the younger mans history. As an adult, the cinematography might be beautiful and the tones warm and rich, but Ray the man is shown warts and all - this is a man who used people shamelessly, not least the women in his life, and the movie does not shirk from showing him in those terms. This has the effect of really drawing you in. Instead of a whitewashed version of his life, you feel you are scratching the surface of a person just a little here, and it makes for fascinating viewing because it rings true.
    Taylor Hackford the director has done an incredible job of creating striking visuals, from the dusty ochre coloured streets of his youth, through to smoky bars, and on to the over the top glitz of LA and swanky nightclubs - all the period settings ring true and are shot to perfection. You can tell this was a labour of love - in fact, Hackford bought the rights to the story back in 1987, but could not find a studio release - it was only after independent financing that Universal studio stepped in to facilitate its release. It must be a matter of some satisfaction to him that Ray Charles was able to see the first edit of the movie before he died, before the movie was actually released.
    Then there is the acting - much has been said of Jamie Foxx's acting here, and it's all true- he embodies the part in a way which is uncanny - his efforts, going to Braille school, wearing prosthetics which made him blind during shooting, studying Ray Charles himself, have really paid off. However this is a performance made up of more than gimmics and prosthetics, this is the performance of a lifetime, giving the character real depth and depth of reality. Then there is the supporting cast - i cant even name them, because every role in the movie rings ttrue, a credit to the casting and to the actors.
    All in all, sure there are bound to be more truths to be told about his life, but this will certainly be the best biopic made of his life, and comes at a most fitting time. terrific cast, script, cinematography and direction - a real winner.
    post script - almost left no room to mention - the 2 disc version comes laden with extras on both the movie and ray - with delted scenes and extended musical scenes. Worth watching, when you think that Jamie Foxx did all the piano playing himself!
    Report
  • McKingstarr
    5.0 out of 5 stars Jamie "Ray Charles" Foxx, in einer grandiosen Rolle als Soullegende!
    Reviewed in Germany on January 25, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Ich als eigentlicher Hip-Hop & R.n.B. Fan, bin eigentlich nicht so besonders an Soul interessiert. Aber dennoch mag ich die Afroamerikanische Szene und alles was dazu gehört sehr. Die großen Legenden wie Ray Charles, James Brown oder Bobby Womack, Jimi Hendrix, Michael Jackson oder Whitney Houston aus den Bereichen Soul, Blues, Rock und Pop müssten aber wohl jedem bekannt sein. Zumindest eine Hand voll guter Songs dieser Künstler sind nicht spurlos an einem vorbei gegangen.
    Aber eigentlich spielt es hier ja garkeine Rolle welche Musik man mag, denn der Film "Ray" zeigt das Leben eines großen Musikers, den man spätestens nach dem Anschauen, noch besser kennen und lieben lernt als zuvor.
    Gekauft habe ich mir diesen Film aber eigentlich, weil ich sehr auf Biographie-Verfilmungen aller Art stehe.
    Da ich in zuvor schon in den Genuß von Filmen wie Notorious B.I.G, 8Mile, Get rich or die Tryin, ALI und Mandela gekommen bin, durfte auch Ray natürlich nicht fehlen.
    Da mich der Werdegang und die Geschichte von Soullegende Ray Charles einfach interessierte, kaufte ich mir diesen Film also vor einigen Jahren auf DVD und nun auch auf Blu-Ray. Ich muss sagen, dass ich immerwieder begeistert bin von diesem Film und Ray's Lebensweg. Außerdem ist hier mit Jamie Foxx, ein sehr guter Schauspieler zu sehen, der Ray Charles nahezu perfekt verkörpert. Diese Rolle ist für ihn wie gemacht. Würde man nicht wissen dass es sich um Jamie Foxx handelt, könnte man meinen dass es der echte Ray Charles ist.

    Ich denke ich muss über die Story nicht besonderst viel verraten. Man muss sich den Film einfach anschauen. Jeder Fan dieses Kündtelers kennt ja im Prinzip seinen Lebenslauf und alle anderen sollten sich einfach überraschen lassen.
    Im Prinzip geht es hier um den Aufstieg des Ray Charles als Soulmusiker, der in einer Zeit geboren wurde, inder das schwarze Volk damals in den USA noch unterdrückt wurde. In armen Verhältnissen und ohne Vater wächst er in Atlanta bei seiner Mutter auf. Er hat noch einen jüngeren Bruder, allerdings muss er mit ansehen wie der durch einen Unfall ums Leben kommt.
    Nur knapp sieben Monate später erblindet Ray dann im Alter von sieben Jahren an grünem Star.
    Viele Schicksalsschläge musste er also ertragen, ließ sich davon aber nie wirklich unter kriegen.
    In Florida beginnt er dann einige Jahre später seine Musikkarriere und wird dadurch zu einem der bekanntesten Musiker seiner Zeit.....

    Ich mag diesen Film sehr. Gut er ist zwar nicht mein absoluter Lieblingsfilm, aber man muss ihn trotzdem gesehen haben.
    Es ist ein Streifen den man auch öfters sehen kann. Bei mir was es bisher auch schon zwei mal.
    Hier gibt es über 150 Minuten lang die volle Packung Ray Charles bzw. Jamie Foxx zu sehen. Ich sage, kauft euch das Ding und gebe ganz klar fünf verdiente Sterne.
    Report
  • Dhiraj
    5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing movie
    Reviewed in India on November 18, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    It took around 10 days for Blue Dart to deliver my package. About movie, this is one great movie plus I got it for Rs 327.00 only which was a great deal.
    Report
  • Kelly
    5.0 out of 5 stars A must see….
    Reviewed in Canada on October 17, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    This was a great movie, Jamie Fox played Ray Charles amazingly.
    Report
  • OsirideinBehet
    5.0 out of 5 stars Ottimo
    Reviewed in Italy on April 13, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Molto bello
    Report