All I can say is that was my favorite movie when I wtched it on the opening weekend (until I started watching more movies). When a 15 (now) year old can tell that an actor is doing an amzaing job, you know that it has to be one hell of a performance-- which is what Jamie Fox gave. I didn't like how Ray kept cheating on his wife, and the movie did carry a sad tone most of the way through, until the end when he was welcomed back into his home state. There was a fari amount of iffy content, which included the sexuality, some language, and of course, Ray's addiction to heroine (when he first tried it, one of his friends said: "It's better than sex." to which Ray responds, "Nothing is better than sex.")-- so you can get an idea of what's in there. Also, some younger viewers might be sad during Ray's flachbacks to his childhood, especially given the way they were presented.

If you are under 9 years, this is something that you are gonna want to watch as a family. this can teach you things about Ray.

Definitely not for children, but definitely for mature teenagers. So much more to this movie than the normal PG-13 movie. Overcoming adversity, perserverence, the evils of drug use, the history of segregation in this country, the history of the soul music, etc.The acting and the story are excellent. An superb group of African American actors tells a moving story about a great African American figure. Jamie Foxx is getting a lot of Oscar buzz and it is justified. Learned tons about Ray Charles that I didn't know and while he had severe personal weaknesses (drugs and sex) his ability to overcome his blindness, the racial prejudices of the 40's-60's AND even his drug addiction is truly inspirational. Some of the women portrayed are truly role models -- Ray's mother and his wife.Proves that an R-rated life does not have to be portrayed in an R-rated manner.

it tells you how if you're a spaz and disabled you can still achieve anything, get money and lots of women!