Year of Release: 2019
Director: Rupert Goold
Starring: Renee Zellweger, Jessie Buckley, Finn Wittrock, Rufus Sewell, Michael Gambon, Darci Shaw, Bella Ramsey, Andy Nyman, Gaia Weiss, Gemma-Leah Devereux, Royce Pierreson
Genre: Drama
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 6
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Synopsis and Review:
Director Rupert Goold has followed his feature directorial debut "True Story", with this adaptation of the play "End of the Rainbow", by Peter Quilter. The film follows the story of Judy Garland in the late 60s, as she is struggling financially, and as result has no place to live, and has to take her young children to stay with her ex-husband. Unable to find film roles, Judy finally acquiesces and decides to take a run of shows in London, in order to gain financial stability to provide her a better living arrangement, and therefore keep her children. Judy's performances remain iconic, but she's perpetually unable to sleep, and is constantly haunted by her past, the decisions that were carried from it, and her constant resort to alcohol and medical prescriptions to live. She's also profoundly alone, and the excitement and attention from a young American suitor spark some attention in her, but that relationship also fizzles. As her performances are met with ups and downs, Judy questions what her next steps are going to be.
Like most biopics, "Judy" follows a somewhat conventional structure, even if a somewhat predictable one. The film introduces us to the last few months in the life of the iconic Judy Garland, someone whose life has been documented aplenty, and whose sad demise has also already been captured in other mini-series. This film does present the opportunity to capture a bit of the longing, loneliness and stage presence of the performer, as her life was nearing its end. The screenplay, or for that matter the director, never truly capture or go beyond the topic that succinctly can be described as "show business ruined my childhood and corrupted my adulthood". It would have been interesting to see a bit more about the motivations and struggles surrounding Judy as she matured, experienced motherhood and the disappointment of the marriages she had. We get a brief glimpse into that, primarily through the central performance. Renee Zellweger has always been a great actress, and this film once again showcases it. She dials herself inward, and truly becomes someone else, beyond the artifice of the exterior, beyond her great singing ability. She carries a burden, a sadness and melancholy that sticks to her, on every frame, even when she's on stage. It's a riveting embodiment, particularly considering this is the same performer who did Rob Marshall's "Chicago" and Sharon Maguire's "Bridget Jones's Diary". The film is lit by her presence, and does a solid work of illustrating both her performances and her epilogue. Worth watching.
Like most biopics, "Judy" follows a somewhat conventional structure, even if a somewhat predictable one. The film introduces us to the last few months in the life of the iconic Judy Garland, someone whose life has been documented aplenty, and whose sad demise has also already been captured in other mini-series. This film does present the opportunity to capture a bit of the longing, loneliness and stage presence of the performer, as her life was nearing its end. The screenplay, or for that matter the director, never truly capture or go beyond the topic that succinctly can be described as "show business ruined my childhood and corrupted my adulthood". It would have been interesting to see a bit more about the motivations and struggles surrounding Judy as she matured, experienced motherhood and the disappointment of the marriages she had. We get a brief glimpse into that, primarily through the central performance. Renee Zellweger has always been a great actress, and this film once again showcases it. She dials herself inward, and truly becomes someone else, beyond the artifice of the exterior, beyond her great singing ability. She carries a burden, a sadness and melancholy that sticks to her, on every frame, even when she's on stage. It's a riveting embodiment, particularly considering this is the same performer who did Rob Marshall's "Chicago" and Sharon Maguire's "Bridget Jones's Diary". The film is lit by her presence, and does a solid work of illustrating both her performances and her epilogue. Worth watching.
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