Foxx sizzles with emotion as he brings the extraordinary story to life. Musically, the film provides an education of Charles’ journey through gospel, country, jazz, blues and swing and the innovations he brought. As in most film biographies, there’s a share of clichés. Besides, the film is overlong at 152 minutes. But it is still enjoyable for its utterly compelling tale and the conviction that springs from Foxx’s work.

There’s also the power of the music. Charles’ own recordings are used, and Foxx does such a good job of miming them that it as if Charles were there himself. By the time the film is over, it seems as if Foxx really is Charles, and that’s no small feat.

As with any good biography, we get a picture of the times as well, including the era of the civil rights fight, the indignities Charles faced as an African-American artist and his eventual decision not to appear in a segregated environment. The problems of a black artist, let alone a blind one, having to navigate through the cut-throat music business are also addressed.

The tragedy of Charles losing his eyesight as a youngster is properly a key part of the story, as is the emotional baggage he carries as a result of the tragic death of his brother. The screenplay by James L.White, based on a story by him and Hackford, assigns an important role to Charles’ mother, played convincingly by Sharon Warren. There are the women in his love life, including his wife (Kerry Washington) and his mistress Margie (Regina King). Charles’ drug habit is also a major part of the story. Even so, there is so much that has to be encapsulated even to bring the film to its present length. Charles was such a larger-than-life, complicated artist, with success bringing even more complications.