(From IMDb.com)
Having only the clear memory of the young Dorothy of countless viewings of The Wizard of Oz and fuzzy recollections of the aging actress that players her that showed up on my TV in black-and-white in various programs my parents watched during my youth to go on, I cannot say that Renee Zellweger’s portrayal of Judy Garland in Judy is spot-on.
I will claim with authority, however, that Zellweger surely has channeled a personality that keeps your eyes squarely on the screen the whole 117 minutes of this biopic directed by Rupert Goold from a screenplay by Tom Edge adapted from Peter Quilter’s play Over the Rainbow. She’s at turns bitter, sweet, horrifying, magnificent, genuine. And I sure can imagine that with the life she led as depicted by this telling of her story, Judy Garland indeed turned out something like this.
Zellweger is magnificent.
The story centers around Garland’s trip to London for a series of shows in 1968. The appearance is a savior of sorts; her U.S. career has turned into a horrible drive to places that ask her to include her son and daughter on stage and hand her over a was of cash far smaller than what she’d want or expect. In fact, we discover, she’s got trouble paying important financial tabs and keeping any sort of emotional balance with her ex husband.
The fans of London, though, adore her.
Her mind-set, however, is way out of whack nonetheless.
The visit to Judy’s world darts between the young-actress formative studio treatment that undoubtedly went such a long way to making her what she became in so many ways and the rollercoaster ride her life has become.
It’s a hot seat indeed. (From IMDb.com)
She treats people badly and then she doesn’t. They treat her with adoration and then they don’t.
It’s a sad, sad tale, lovely at the top and full of despair at the bottom.
Oh, what was. Oh, what could have been. Oh, what a triumph for Zellweger.
Central New Yorkers can view Judy free as part of the Liverpool Public Library’s Movie Matinee series, at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 24 and 2:30 p.m. Friday, March 27, in the Carman Community Room.
I loved Judy as a little girl and used to go to record stores collecting her records. I probably still have 25 or so. I would belt out all of her songs as an elementary kid, during trips to my grandparent’s house, singing Swanee River and You Made Me Love You. I read several of her biography and I’m aware of the sad truth of her life and the people who tried to save her and how she would not let them. So tragic. I hear Renee was amazing.
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You should try to watch Renee’s portrayal now that it’s available for home viewing, Kerbey. It will stir those memories of yours.
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How about Andy Reid? Does he become the part of super bowl champion coach?
I always find some disappointment to movies where someone else portrays someone else.
If they were popular and good the role is always hard to fill!
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Andy Reid is A-OK in my world, Gerald.
And that’s the thing about biopics about former generations. Somebody else always has to play the part. Good acting can get it done, and Zellweger was really good as Garland at the end of her life.
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I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE THIS!!!!
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It’s quite intense, MBC.
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I’m ready. I spent one fall reading A LOT about her. Tragic. SO. Tragic.
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Yes, the American dream turns so quickly, MBC.
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I loved it and I thought she was amazing. it was horribly tragic, but so well done.
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You have it right, Beth.
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This sounds really good, Mark! And what I especially love hearing is that the library is bringing people together for a showing! What an awesome community you’re a part of.
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We do good things with our community room for sure, Sandra!
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Using community resources to bring people together is the heart warming story I didn’t know I needed. Thanks bro!
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You and Erik could hook Oliva up with a good library out there, sis. That would be pretty cool.
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They are turning the neighborhood library down the street into the school library for the new high school that is being built. I hope that means they build a new neighborhood library. Put in a good word for us. 😉
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They cannot leave you library-less, Sandra! I don’t think my library voice reaches that far west dagnabbit.
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