Ever since the film was released on September 27, 2019, this author has had his eye on Judy (2019). When the film was announced and the iconic role was first cast, it just emanated “Oscar” all over it. While some might have considered the movie to be “Oscar-bait” from the trailer get-go, I was cautiously optimistic. After seeing Renée Zellweger (Chicago (2002), Cinderella Man (2005)) take home both the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Drama and the Academy Award for Best Actress, I knew I had to see the film. Every year I try to see as many Oscar-nominated films as possible, but the last few years have fallen a bit short for me. But this was one I did NOT want to miss. I drove a half hour because I wanted to see it in the theater, and I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt, it was well worth the drive and more.
I heard someone ask a YouTube movie critic once what his favorite thing about movies was, what it was that drew him to movies, or his favorite aspect of movie-making. Often people say the story, the editing, the cinematography. But for me, and for many others I would wager, I think I watch movies for the performances. And I love watching those performances that while you’re watching them, you just know they are going to be award-winning. It’s not because the actor or actress is trying to win an Oscar and pushing themselves so hard to do so, but because it seems effortless and sincere, and the audience gets caught up in the role with that performer. The performances I enjoy the most are when actors and actresses are portraying real people. The most recent example that comes to my mind is Natalie Portman’s performance as Mrs. Kennedy in Jackie (2016), one of my favorite films. I don’t know exactly what it is and I cannot put my finger on it, but I think it has to do somewhat with watching someone truly embody someone who actually lived, or is still living. The mannerisms and gestures and imitations and voice matches are one thing, but combining it all together to bring the heart and soul of that person on screen, that is cinematic gold for me. And Judy is cinematic gold.
Judy is a very sad story, when it comes right down to it. It’s not a pretty biopic or a glamorous reflection on one of the most iconic women in Hollywood history who died long before her time. There are moments of glitz and fame, and of course there are many moments that one could argue are “Hollywood-ized,” but for the most part, Judy is a no-nonsense look back at essentially the last part of Judy Garland’s life, her struggles with drugs and alcohol, and her determination to be a good mother. It is intertwined with flashbacks from her very early days as a child actress in films like The Wizard of Oz (1939) and buddy musicals with Mickey Rooney (Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961), Pete’s Dragon (1977)). Renée Zellweger truly embodies Judy Garland in this film. She is not a complete match in appearance, but she does look enough like her to sell the audience. There are moments of vocal inflection in dialogue and especially in her singing that if you close your eyes, it really could be Judy Garland. She nails the mannerisms and personality to a tee, not offensively so but in passionate tribute. You can tell she cared about the role. Often many people say that the feature performance was good, but the movie itself was “meh.” In hindsight, Zellweger’s performance is probably better than the film as a whole, but in this case, that performance elevates the film (similar to my thoughts on Jackie) so that in it’s entirety, the whole thing is a magical success.
I know it can get a little tiresome just hearing someone gush about a film as if it had no flaws. I must admit have very few qualms with the film, but I will admit those here. One of the characters in this film is a love interest of sorts for Judy Garland, and his name is Mickey Deans (Finn Wittrock (Unbroken (2014), The Big Short (2015)). You think the film is going to take on the direction of a romantic love story, but it thankfully does not. However, I personally found this character a little jarring. I am not sure if it was the way his dialogue was written or if it was the actor’s performance, but something about it felt off. Some of the things he would say or the way he would act did not seem like he was from the 1960s; it seemed like he was being someone from our present day just thrown into that world. Maybe it was intended for there to be a character in the film that we could relate to, but in that regard it really was not necessary. We already could relate to Judy. Whenever Mickey was on screen it admittedly took me out of the movie for a little while. He isn’t in the movie enough however for it to take away from my enjoyment of the movie itself, which is nice because that is not often the case.
Judy does not start out as a feel-good movie, but in the end, I think it turns into one. Whether you are a Judy Garland aficionado, you only know her as Dorothy who is trying to get home, or you know nothing about her, I highly recommend this film. It’s not always easy to sit through, but Renée Zellweger’s performance alone is worth the watch. She carries the movie and carries it impeccably all the way to the end credits, right after probably the most emotional, and possibly best scene of the entire film. The icing on top of the cake is a quote from The Wizard of Oz before the credits roll. It’s a long yellow brick road, but Ms. Zellweger teaches you a little bit about what Judy Garland was like, and also how “the dreams that you dare to dream…really do come true.” It’s a tearjerker, but go give it a watch; it’s definitely a favorite of 2019, and truly one of the best movies I have seen in a long time.
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