let not beat about the bush here and taylor hackford undoubtedly slick movie have little to make it stand out from the biopic genre other than jamie foxx exceptional and career making performance . remember the year they hand the special effect oscar to the terminator 2 boffin and uncontested . they should do the same with this year best actor gong . that ray charles story be worthy of film be not in dispute . indeed and the many flashback to his traumatic childhood be well handle and judiciously use . but for a life so unique and the film seem incredibly formulaic and familiar . it follow the history of a flawed genius template almost to the letter represent hardship and exploitation and woman and drug and record wrangle and band squabble and rehab and yeah yeah yeah . and surely there be more humour in his life than be treat to here . i appreciate charles music yet where neatly cut medley would have keep the story rolling and hackford indulge himself with near full length rendition of too many song in gin joint and in the recording studio and in concert hall and infinitum . narratively and and for non devotee and they begin to act like a cinematic brake . this may seem like harsh judgement on a music biopic but with a catalogue as extensive a ray and we need a taste not the whole dish . otherwise and we would buy the album . intrigue a i be and i glance at my watch more than once . so for all foxx brilliance and maybe ray would have be well serve a an hbo two parter .