JUDY from BBC Films, Calamity Films, Pathé UK, Twentieth Century Fox

JUDY
 from
 BBC Films, Calamity Films, Pathé UK, Twentieth Century Fox

✯✯✯✯                                                                Review by Astrid Galactic

Not the definitive Judy Garland story but worth seeing Judy none the less. Much more of a vignette of Judy's life. This is a BBC production that focused on Judy's latter days in London with only a peek at Judy's early life. Just enough for the viewer to have an understanding of what influenced her psyche throughout her life, warts and all. We know that Judy Garland was a very gifted and talented performer who suffered from many abuses, both towards her as well as of her own making. This film manages to provide a nice balance of showing us those conflicts with a bit of sweet sugar to keep the film from being nothing but sadness. I left the theater with feeling both sadness and happiness which is what I believe the filmmakers were striving for.

Renée Zellweger's performance was astounding as Judy. What impressed me even more was that she performed her own vocals. Have no idea how much of them may have been tweaked in the studio but they wouldn't have been that good if she didn't have some sort of musical talent in the first place. It was also very clear that Zellweger did an incredible amount of rehearsing and studying of her character before filming. She managed to capture Judy's nuances such as body movements and facial twitches that only enhanced the storytelling. Worth seeing the film just for Renée's performance if nothing else.

Must also give a mention about the wardrobe. Very accurate stylings for the period. It was evident that they actually studied that exact period in time as well as what Judy may have actually worn rather than lift what other's have portrayed in the past as too often happens in film. Lots of gorgeous fabrics such as brocades and colorful prints which were all very lush and appropriate for a star of her stature.

All in all, if you lower your expectations just a bit of the film before viewing, you will be well rewarded with what is still an interesting portrayal of a slice of life of the iconic Judy Garland.

Judy
2019
BBC Films, Calamity Films, Pathé UK, Twentieth Century Fox
Director: Rupert Goold
Writers: Tom Edge (Screenplay), Peter Quilter
*Based on the stage play "End of the Rainbow"