5. Ray
Jamie Foxx had already proven himself to a gifted actor in films such as Any Given Sunday and Collateral, but it was still a brave decision to cast him as one of popular music's biggest ever icons, Ray Charles. Foxx absolutely nails it, and correctly won pretty much every award going. He was only the second actor ever to win all 5 major lead actor awards (Academy, BAFTA, Golden Globe, Critics' Choice, Screen Actors Guild) for the same performance. While it contains a few factual errors/exaggerations - as does any biopic - it is remarkably true to actual events. That's probably as much a testament to the incredible life of Ray Charles, which is an exciting enough story to drive this film. The fact that Foxx is utterly believable as the R&B/blues icon simply makes the film even better. Sadly, Charles died several months before the film was completed. He never got to see his life story rendered so beautifully cinematic. Foxx and director Taylor Hackford did his memory justice. Ray is the perfect tribute to one of the greatest singer-songwriters of all time.