Judy - Review
Director: Rupert Goold
Cast: Renee Zellweger, Jessie Buckley, Michael Gambon
Encapsulating the life and truth of a famous figure is a daunting challenge or prospect for any film-maker, which is why recent biopics have selected a concentrated and defining time period to explore. Judy opts for this increasingly popular approach and focuses on the final few years of Judy Garland's life.
Finding herself in a financial crisis, beloved actress and singer Judy Garland (Zellweger) agrees to perform a run of sell-out concerts in London, 1968. During her time there, she enters a whirlwind romance with her fifth-husband, battles with her ex over custody of their children, re-engages with fans, forges new friendships and reminisces over her turbulent past.
Similarly to early 2019's Stan & Ollie, the screenplay for Judy frames its protagonist in the final years of her career as she performs night after night in a series of concerts to her U.K audience. However, her stint is fraught with problems that threaten to derail the entire run as the years of exploitation and tireless work take their toll on the star's emotional and physical health.
The film shines during the moments where Garland assumes the limelight and demonstrates her incomparable talents that made her so coveted on the stage and in the movies, but falters as it attempts to add layers to Garland's psyche through flashbacks to 1930s Hollywood. Teenage Judy is subjected to humiliation and emotional abuse as she is denied food to carefully control her weight, plied with pills and medication to keep her awake during long shooting hours and is belittled by Louis B. Mayer for her appearance on set of the classic The Wizard of Oz. These glimpses into Judy's youth and brutal treatment by the industry serves to correlate and explain why the songstress suffers so many troubles later in life, but they unfortunately ring hollow and are a weak stab at crafting complexity.
Where the script and plot devices fall short, Zellweger thankfully succeeds in a truly show-stopping turn as the titular character. Over the last few years, Zellweger has been a quiet presence in Hollywood but she explodes back onto our screens in a magnetic and triumphant performance. The actress executes all of Garland's nervous energy, captivating charm and incomparable talent in a pitch-perfect portrayal that is certain to draw acclaim and recognition from all of the major awards ceremonies.
Straining under the rich and complicated tapestry of Garland's legacy, Judy struggles to craft a nuanced story but is bolstered by a career-best performance from Zellweger.
EB
Cast: Renee Zellweger, Jessie Buckley, Michael Gambon
Encapsulating the life and truth of a famous figure is a daunting challenge or prospect for any film-maker, which is why recent biopics have selected a concentrated and defining time period to explore. Judy opts for this increasingly popular approach and focuses on the final few years of Judy Garland's life.
Finding herself in a financial crisis, beloved actress and singer Judy Garland (Zellweger) agrees to perform a run of sell-out concerts in London, 1968. During her time there, she enters a whirlwind romance with her fifth-husband, battles with her ex over custody of their children, re-engages with fans, forges new friendships and reminisces over her turbulent past.
Similarly to early 2019's Stan & Ollie, the screenplay for Judy frames its protagonist in the final years of her career as she performs night after night in a series of concerts to her U.K audience. However, her stint is fraught with problems that threaten to derail the entire run as the years of exploitation and tireless work take their toll on the star's emotional and physical health.
The film shines during the moments where Garland assumes the limelight and demonstrates her incomparable talents that made her so coveted on the stage and in the movies, but falters as it attempts to add layers to Garland's psyche through flashbacks to 1930s Hollywood. Teenage Judy is subjected to humiliation and emotional abuse as she is denied food to carefully control her weight, plied with pills and medication to keep her awake during long shooting hours and is belittled by Louis B. Mayer for her appearance on set of the classic The Wizard of Oz. These glimpses into Judy's youth and brutal treatment by the industry serves to correlate and explain why the songstress suffers so many troubles later in life, but they unfortunately ring hollow and are a weak stab at crafting complexity.
Where the script and plot devices fall short, Zellweger thankfully succeeds in a truly show-stopping turn as the titular character. Over the last few years, Zellweger has been a quiet presence in Hollywood but she explodes back onto our screens in a magnetic and triumphant performance. The actress executes all of Garland's nervous energy, captivating charm and incomparable talent in a pitch-perfect portrayal that is certain to draw acclaim and recognition from all of the major awards ceremonies.
Straining under the rich and complicated tapestry of Garland's legacy, Judy struggles to craft a nuanced story but is bolstered by a career-best performance from Zellweger.
EB
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