In Rupert Goold's Judy, audiences get a backstage pass to film star Judy Garland's penultimate year of life as it concentrates on her series of shows in London in 1968, while flashing back to her MGM adolescence.
A loose adaptation of Peter Quilter's play, End of the Rainbow, Judy is an eye-opening look at how stardom exacerbates a person's mentality, and in Judy's case, how the influx of drugs and booze inflicted upon her from a young age amounted to a broken shell of a woman, desperately searching for her place in the world.
Renee Zellweger returns to screen after an exhausted hiatus, and proves that her absence hasn't diminished the power of her acting. She immerses herself in the titular role, embodying Garland right down to the subtle yet frenzied tics she exhibits during her onstage performances. Her presence is both profound and commanding, with Zellweger managing to portray Judy's larger-than-life personality despite her petite stature - even if a bit of the actress' natural Texan twang seeps out every now and again.
The second half of Judy is punctuated with famous Garland hits performed by Zellweger, who does not miss one beat. It's a talent in itself to be able to sing but Zellweger goes over and above, accurately depicting Garland's unforgettable voice. These moments have all the ambience of a mid-20th century variety show where Garland's sharp wit and vivaciousness steal the scene.
The stark contrast of Garland's onstage and offstage personas are largely explored, where her loneliness and fragility disappears the minute she takes the stage, overcome by a foreign confidence that sees her soar. Audiences also get a glimpse into the star's shambled love life as she enters her fifth marriage with Mickey Dean, a last ditch effort that clings to Garland's craving to be wanted.
Judy's closing scene, where Zellweger performs Somewhere Over the Rainbow, is a tearjerking ode to Garland, bidding the starlet a peace she struggled to achieve while she was still alive. The finale is poignant and reflects the mutual love Garland and her fans had for each other, and it will stay with you long after the final credits roll.
Newcomer Darci Shaw as a 15 year-old Garland fresh off the set of The Wizard of Oz, manages to capture the innocence of a child star who is slowly being tarnished by grit of Hollywood. She's fresh-faced and the most alive in scenes where Judy is defying the rules of those around her.
Not to go without mention is Jessie Buckley, who was masterfully cast as Garland's assistant, eloquently delivering a frustration that is felt by characters and audience alike.
The film will definitely appease fans though its plot is oddly polarised, omitting many, if not all, of Garland's prime filmmaking and personal years. This is an element that will surely have audiences scratching their heads, especially when these years contributed so greatly to the performer's downfall. Judy unfortunately falls short as a barely-there look at Garland's life that fails to live up to the hype of previous musical biopics.
Renee Zellweger is a bright star amongst Judy's sometimes bleak and inconsistent plot, with her performance being the glue that holds what is an otherwise mediocre film together. You'll be hard-pressed to find someone that can't attest to Zellweger's ferocity in the role, one that will be sure to grant her several nominations by the time awards season rolls around.
★: 7/10
Feature image courtesy of Universal Studios.