An exceptional performance for a semi-exceptional film

Rating: 8/10 (23 April 2006)

Jamie Fox's performance of Ray Charles is the performance I am referring to. In truth,this movie is a fine film,but just nothing distinguishable in and of itself.
Director Taylor Hackford(An Officer and a Gentleman)co-wrote this film with James White,which is best described as a partial,apocryphal bio-pic,where it covers MOST of Ray's life,capturing the elements of his career and relationships that defined him. From his youngest,sighted memories as a poor kid growing up in rural Northern Florida,one of the last of those memories was watching his brother drown to death,to his rise to fame as a musician,topping off with his refusal to play a concert in segregated Georgia,which got him banned from the state for about seventeen years. Good,solid supporting performances by Kerry WAshington(as Ray's wife Della),Regina King(as MArgie Hendricks,the back-up singer Ray would have n affair and a child with),Harry Lennix(as Ray's chief promoter),Bokeem Woodbine(as FAthead Newman,who would become Ray's chief collaborator in music for decades),Aunjanue Ellis(as one of Ray's other back-up singers,the Rayettes) and Curtis Armstrong(almost unrecognizable as Ray's first record contract,who would end up being his longtime friend) among others are able to frame this film just fine. Really,this film is all about,and all around Ray and Jamie Fox's tribute to it,and he does it Perfectly. While the Oscars(and any other awards for that matter,I suppose)can have their moments of inaccuracy in doling out awards,Fox's Best Actor win was spot on,and well worth viewing this movie.