The Man Behind the Glasses: Ray A Movie Review

Rarely does a film come along that sweeps you off your seat and at the same time has you riveted to your seat in anxiety. In anticipation. In wonder. In joy. In amusement. In entertainment. Well, the film "Ray" starring Ray Charles contians all of these emotions and reactions and it is one of the best films I have seen in a long time.

The film is about the true life of Ray Charles, a great legenday singer and musician. The film shows both the good and the bad troubles that Ray got himself into, as he coped without the ability to see throughout his entire life.

The movie Ray is palyed by Jamie Foxx who seems to be in the prime of his acting career as this film is by far his best acting performance in a film or in a television show ever. He really does a fantastic job of depicting the agony and joy that Ray Charles experienced throughout his life.

The film shows how at the early age of only 7 Ray Charles lost his ability to see. It also shows how he witnessed death in his family in an early age. In his childhood Ray Charles was brought up by a single mother who was determined to support her children and give them a better life. Growing up in the world, Ray Charles had to overcome racism in addition to his blindness and poverty.

One particular scene in the film shows how one store owner tried to cheat Ray Charles out of Ray's money by counting the money out loud purposely wrong since the owner knew that Ray was blind and wouldn't know that he was being cheated out of his money. This led Ray Charles to develop the habit of smartly asking for single dollar bills when he got paid for performing in singing or playing the piano.

The film also shows the bad side of Ray Charles. How he was a heavy drug user and needed rehabilitation to fix his life. How his obsession with woman got him into financial trouble and a strong temper.
However through it all Ray Charles perservered. In the early 1960's Ray Chalres performed on the biggest musical stage at Carnegie Hall. His hit songs that he sang, "Georgia", and "Born to Lose" made him a national and international star.

The film Ray Charles is a really excellent film that depicts the life of a truly extraordinary man. I highly encourage everyone to see it.