Judy review

JUDY:

RENÉE ZELLWEGER BRINGS JUDY GARLAND’S LEGACY TO THE SCREEN IN THIS CAPTIVATING BIOPIC!

By Nico Beland

Movie Review: *** ½ out of 4

LD ENTERTAINMENT AND ROADSIDE ATTRACTIONS

Renée Zellweger is Judy

            Renée Zellweger (Bridget Jones trilogy, Chicago, Cold Mountain) transforms herself into beloved music performer and movie star, Judy Garland in the new biopic, Judy. The film is directed by Rupert Goold (Macbeth(2010), True Story, King Charles III) and based on the Broadway play, End of the Rainbow and actual events in Judy Garland’s life specifically her rough childhood as a child star and London concert runs in 1969 followed by her death six months later.

            Judy Garland was a national treasure and still is even today after starring in some of the most beloved films of all time like The Wizard of Oz, A Star is Born, and Judgment at Nuremberg, so despite her unfortunate death from a drug overdose her legacy continues to live on. However, if you know Judy’s life then you’ve already figured out that it wasn’t all sunny and magical in Munchkin Land, she had an overwhelming and stressful childhood to the point of being abused by studio heads, not being allowed to eat, and required to take drugs to meet studio demands…geez, give the girl a break.

            Anyway, now we have this biopic with Zellweger who had already portrayed a damn good Beatrix Potter in the 2007 film Miss Potter in the title role that pays tribute to one of the greatest and most influential performers of all time. And she knocked it out of the park with Judy and fully transformed into the late actor/singer in one of her best performances in years, from her singing to recapturing Garland’s mannerisms, voice, and understanding the struggles she was going through in her personal life whether financially, drug addictions, or family dilemmas, YOU ARE WATCHING JUDY GARLAND EVERY TIME SHE’S ON-SCREEN! 

            The film is set in 1969 and follows Judy Garland (Zellweger) arriving in London to perform a five-week sold-out run at The Talk of the Town. It’s been about 30 years since she rose to global stardom as Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz and life hasn’t been kind to Judy, she’s fighting with her third husband Sidney Luft (Rufus Sewell-Hamlet(1996), Dark City, Dangerous Beauty) over custody of their kids, turned to alcohol and drug addiction, and is having financial issues and traumatic memories from her early days as a child star. 

            This five-week run in London is the key to solving Judy’s financial troubles and gives her all into the show so she can finally take custody of her children while also trying to get through her addictions during her final days. Various events in Judy’s life are also covered as the film progresses such as her relationships with Mickey Rooney and her fifth husband, Mickey Deans (Finn Wittrock-Noah, American Horror Story, La La Land), the strict policies and schedules she needed to follow during her childhood, and constantly being forced to take amphetamines. 

            The film also stars Michael Gambon (Harry Potter franchise, Amazing Grace, The King’s Speech) as Bernard Delfont, Jessie Buckley (Beast, Wild Rose, Chernobyl) as Rosalyn Wilder, Richard Cordery (Doc Martin, Midsomer Murders, Les Miserables (2012)) as MGM co-founder Louis B. Mayer, Bella Ramsey (Game of Thrones, The Worst Witch, Hilda) as Lorna Luft, Royce Pierreson (Murdered by My Boyfriend, Line of Duty, Spectral) as Burt, John Dagleish (Starlings, Christopher Robin, Mary Poppins Returns) as Lonnie Donegan, and Gemma-Leah Devereux (The Tudors, Casualty, Comedown) as Liza Minnelli.

            Overall, Judy is a love-letter to the life of one of the most beloved stars of all time and the impact she had on many people. Whether you grew up with The Wizard of Oz, was dazzled by her Oscar nominated performance in A Star is Born, or simply admired her music and television career, I guarantee Judy Garland sparked some magic in your life at some point. 

            However, the movie isn’t afraid to shy away from the harsh moments in Judy’s career like being verbally abused by Louis B. Mayer and other studio heads about not being pretty or being forbidden to eat, and that her early stardom affected her physical and mental health severely. Similar to Rocketman, the film is shown through various flashbacks of Garland’s early life and career with the 1969 London shows as the main focus and while at times they can be awkwardly placed in the narrative, they’re not distracting, nor do they ruin the movie. 

            Renée Zellweger’s performance as Judy Garland is perfect and the stuff of legends, from the makeup and hairstyle, voice, facial expressions, and mannerisms and body movement I honestly thought for sure I was watching the real-life Judy Garland. Her performance alone is worth the price of admission and I’ll be pissed if she doesn’t at least get an Oscar nomination for this movie.

            Judy is a poignant and inspiring biopic on one of the most beloved actors and music performers of all time that honors her legacy without overly glorifying her or shying away from the struggles she had faced in her lifetime. All leading up to one powerful final line that I feel is an appropriate way to end this review “You won’t forget me, will you?” No, we certainly won’t Judy.