Ray

REVIEW
Giving a tour-de-force performance as legendary blind singer/songwriter Ray Charles, Foxx leaps into the upper echelon of contemporary American actors thanks to his unexpected and exhilarating star turn in Ray, an involving, exuberant biography of the late singer. To say that nothing Foxx has done in his career to date could have prepared anyone for this portrayal is an understatement -- this performance isn't imitation and mimickry, it's demonic possession. Ray Charles was born in poverty in 1930s Georgia. Having sight long enough to witness the death of his younger brother, Ray lost his sight at age seven and left his beloved mother to attend a school for the blind. Fortunately, his mother instilled in him a strong will and a decided lack of self-pity, which considering the often staggering despair Ray faced in his life was a valuable lesson. But Ray was also a musical genius, who during his early career would imitate the stars of the day before finding his own distinctive, splendid voice. The film in straight-forward fashion and easy-to-follow flashbacks covers his going blind as a youth, his rise in the music industry, his marriage and extramarital affairs and his drug addiction, which almost took his life. Director Hackford conveys a genuine affection for the era and for the singer, and Foxx's musical performances are electrifying. As film biography, Ray -- genre conventions and all -- is solid enough to stand on its own. Having Foxx commanding center stage makes it a rare, irresistible viewing experience.