Ray Review

There aren't too many films that you can watch and confidently predict that the leading man will win an Oscar - but "Ray" is about as close to a sure thing as you'll ever see. Directed by Taylor Hackford, the film charts the eventful life of American music icon Ray Charles. Blind from the age of seven, Charles never let disability hold him back as he grew from humble roots in Florida to become one of the country's biggest stars thanks to his innovative talent on the ivories and an overwhelming urge to succeed. That's not to say that tragedy never touched Ray's life - haunted by the death of his younger brother, affected by issues of race and moral decency and tormented by a dangerous drug problem, Charles's journey was never easy but these obstacles make his story all the more remarkable and all the more fascinating.

Full of jive talk and swinging style, "Ray" is a real winner. Foxx is simply awesome in the lead, effortlessly blending Charles's fervour and zest for life with his darker side and allowing the demons his fans seldom got to see come to the surface. As is often the case with biopics, we never really know how much of what we see has been romanticised or dramatised but the screenplay certainly does what it sets out to and allows us to form our own opinion of the the man. One aspect of the film which is beyond question is the music. Featuring some 40 different songs, your foot will tap all the way through as modern classics including Unchain My Heart, Hit The Road Jack and Georgia On My Mind grace your ears.

For those who don't know much about Ray Charles this film will serve as a great introduction to his music, while fans will be pleased that it also serves as a fitting tribute to his enduring legacy.