Winter 1968 and showbiz legend Judy Garland arrives in Swinging London to perform a five-week sold-out run at The Talk of the Town. It is 30 years since she shot to global stardom in The Wizard of...
A compassionate and honest recounting of events, “Judy”, directed by Rupert Goold, while has a wobbly structure and not much in terms of substance, is carried powerfully and wonderfully by Renée Zellweger with a captivating performance that captures the essence and free spirited nature of Judy Garland.
.
Thirty years after starring in “The Wizard of Oz”, beloved actress and singer Judy Garland arrives in London to perform sold out shows in order to raise enough money to stay with her children. Along her way, she ends up in a whirlwind of an emotional journey, trying to find her peace over the rainbow.
.
Much of the film focuses on Garland in her 40s, flashing back once in a while to her early days as a child star in Hollywood, working tirelessly and being denied many of the simple pleasures of life from jumping into a pool to eating a simple burger. While these flashes serves purpose in showcasing why Garland behaves the way she does, the weak transitions between the different times threaten the pace and fluidity of the film. The film’s narrative follows the standard biopic formula, with some of the story beats coming off as repetitive and at times, tiresome. That being said, Director Rupert Goold does weaves in some effective tinges of emotion that highlight the truly tragic life of Garland and leaves a strong poignant impact at the end.
.
It wasn’t just the director’s efforts that helped elevate the title character, as actress Renee Zellweger dominates the screen as one of cinema’s most iconic actresses. As presented in the film, Garland’s deepest desires are all so pure, as she just wants to be with her kids, to do a good job, and to find love. Zellweger portrays those emotions so strongly throughout, as you witness her battles because of her result of growing up in the Hollywood system, plagued by astronomical pressures and inappropriate behavior. Zellweger invests Garland with her own ferocity and focus, to the point where the technical commitment and strenuous physicality of the performance becomes one with the character’s own extraordinary grit and courage. Playing Garland’s soft, unprotected center as well as her sharp corners, Zellweger embodies the spirit of the worshipped icon spectacularly. Plus, she sings the songs with such natural vigor that you’d truly believe it’s the older Garland herself!
.
“Judy” is a fairly weak biopic centered around a brilliant performance. The film’s usage of flashbacks weaken the overall structure, and the formulaic approach can be a bit tedious for the viewer. However, Renee Zellweger’s heartbreaking performance elevates the otherwise average biopic script here to truly mean something. Garland was a troubled soul, but she did not want to be. This film seeks to honor the largely invisible labor and self-denial beneath the high gloss and glamour of celebrity. “I think maybe I was just hungry this whole time.”, Zellweger’s Garland says wryly. It’s a throwaway line, but one that gets to the starving heart of a gifted artist who dared to dream of having her cake, and eating it too.
