370. Judy; movie review

JUDY
Cert 12A
118 mins
BBFC advice: Contains scenes of drug misuse, infrequent strong language

Mansfield is a strange place to find myself on a Wednesday lunchtime but its Odeon was the only venue playing Judy locally and I could not afford to miss out.
Just as well - Renee Zellweger is astonishing as the great entertainer and could well win an Academy Award.
Zellweger is completely unrecognisable in her guise as Judy Garland, capturing her erratic lifestyle while singing like an angel.
Much of the movie focuses on her appearances at London's Talk Of The Town and her time during her stay in the capital, six months before her death.
It is a sad reflection on an icon who first came to the world's attention as Dorothy in the Wizard Of Oz.
Rupert Goold's picture flashes back to the making of that famous movie with Darci Shaw as young Judy who is under ghastly pressure from studio chief LB Mayer (Richard Cordery).
It is clearly suggested that the addiction to prescription tablets in her later years was precipitated from a young age.
Indeed, her relationship problems can also be traced back to the same period when she was denied friends and put on an impossible work schedule.
Back in London, her frustrated minder (Jessie Buckley) faces the constant dread over which Judy is going to emerge each evening.
If it an alcohol-free Judy, she can breathe easily, knowing that her boss, Bernard Delfont (Michael Gambon) and the audience will be delighted.
The alternative is a vodka-sozzled drunk who is the target for bread rolls thrown by angry customers.
Garland's story is told faithfully by Goold with a couple of embellishments to an otherwise faithful narrative.
Unfortunately, it does tread over the same ground quite a lot - with Judy's conscience playing push-me-pull-you over the need to be with her children and the desire to be a star.
And of course, there is the reliance of men who flit in and out of her life.
All of this is portrayed with gusto by Zellweger who has captured the essence of a tortured but highly talented soul.
Her performance alone makes this movie well worth watching.


Reasons to watch: Renee Zellweger is stunningly good
Reasons to avoid: It goes over the same ground too much

Laughs: A couple of chuckles
Jumps: One
Vomit: None
Nudity: None
Overall rating: 8/10

Did you know? When she was a child, Judy, whose name was originally Frances Gumm  formed a vaudeville trio with her sisters known as The Gumm Sisters. But the press quickly called them The Glum Sisters also all changed their last name to Garland.

Final word. Renee Zellweger: "She’s such a legend. But there’s so much to the human being as well. You want her to come across as big as she was, but also show the woman. Her intelligence, determination, tenacity, hope. She never gave that up, no matter the circumstances.” The Guardian

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