Actor Jamie Foxx is genius on screen as the late blues and jazz singer Ray Charles. “Ray” is a triumphant musical bio-pic about the life of Ray Charles.

In this movie Foxx turns himself into an exact replica of the great singer.

Foxx succeeds totally in speaking and acting as if he were Charles in the flesh.

In preparation for the role, Foxx covered his eyes with blinders and a gel to truly embrace what it was like to be blind. To further commensurate the role, Foxx also went from weighing 190 pounds to 157 pounds.

Director, Taylor Hackford does a terrific job creating a film that gives audiences a glimpse into the life of a talented, yet flawed heroin addict who had the ability to make everyone love him and his music.

With a mix of raunchiness and complexity, music and drama, this movie shows how one man conquered the difficulties of blindness, prejudice and drugs, and finally leaves us with the music.

The childhood scenes, mostly in flashback, give us bleak drama, but it is Charles’ secret life of sex and drugs that takes us deeper.

This movie is no walk in the park. It never lets up and leaves everyone wanting more.

Charles participated heavily in this production and tested Foxx on a number of occasions.

Foxx’s performances as Charles were so unbelievably realistic, that when we hear the 25 songs in Charles’ real voice one can hardly notice a difference.

Of course, Foxx doesn’t sing like Charles, but the resemblance is so uncanny we find ourselves thinking for a moment that Foxx is really Charles playing himself. It’s Charles’ voice we hear towering, howling and laughing, from “Mess Around” to “I Can’t Stop Loving You.”

Hearing these songs will warm your soul over and over again. One can only thank Hackford, Charles and everyone involved in this film, especially Foxx for presenting them so authentically, and the man so clearly.

“Ray” is a fit tribute to an entertainer who, no matter what hate or hardship threw in his way or how many mistakes he made, we can’t stop loving.

• Amber James