Honest, exhilarating biopic

Rating: 9/10 (24 December 2004)

This movie does justice to one of the most spectacular American lives of all time. It covers Ray Charles' life from his destitute Florida childhood to his spectacular musical success, without sugar-coating his infidelity, drug use, and sometimes manipulative and tyrannical nature. Jamie Foxx's performance is simply amazing; not merely mimicry of such a well-known personality, but a truly brilliant job of acting. While Foxx is certainly a talented pianist, he and director Taylor Hackford were smart enough not to try to duplicate Charles' unique vocal stylings, and used Ray Charles' actual voice for some of his most famous performances. While the movie of course takes dramatic license with some of the events in Charles' life, it's overall honesty breathes life into its subject, instead of placing him on a pedestal. It's a credit to Ray Charles that he approved of, and assisted with, the screenplay, warts and all.