Hollywood biopics can be problematic, compressing events for dramatic purposes, creating fictional composite characters, and sometimes inventing events out of thin air. In those terms, Ray, Taylor Hackford’s biopic of Ray Charles, presents a life according to Hollywood and should not be mistaken for a historical document, or a documentary. As entertainment, Ray excels at providing a delightful, family friendly, semi-sanitized version of a story set against the backdrop of mid-20th century American racial tensions leading into the Civil Rights movements of the 1960s.

Ray Charles’s life was rough. Witnessing his brother’s death before going blind and having to deal with poverty and the segregated south, Ray Charles’ success is prime beef for receiving the Hollywood biopic treatment. First time screenwriter James L. White tackles the extended story with gusto, if not exactly subtlety. His adherence to the usual Hollywood biopic structure and tropes is elevated by Taylor Hackford’s flashy directing and Jamie Foxx’s career-defining, Oscar-winning, lead performance as an embodiment of Ray Charles’ spirit and charm.

In addition to winning the Oscar for Best Actor, Ray was nominated for Best Picture and Best Director (losing to Million Dollar Baby in both cases). Later, Jamie Foxx would use his Oscar status to score a pay raise on the set of Michael Mann’s Miami Vice. Taylor Hackford would take a break before making the thoroughly unseen Love Ranch and the Jason Statham vehicle, Parker.

Ray airs on Starz at 9pm.