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JUDY movie review by Frank Ioele
JUDY movie review by Frank Ioele
She's back! You know, Judy! And if you have to ask, "Judy who?" then you probably don't want to see this movie. Renee Zellweger recreates the Judy Garland of the final year of her life perfectly in the new movie simply titled , "Judy." She looks remarkable like Judy, talks like her, walks like her and gesticulates like her. As for the singing, I thought it would bother me that Renee was going to use her own voice but you know something? It works! Zellweger was not a singer but was trained to sing Judy's greatest hits. She captures the real Judy very well because at this stage in her career, just 6 months before her untimely death 6 months later in June of 1969, Judy was not in good voice most nights.
The plot revolves around Judy's final attempt to jump start her career once again in order to keep her children. She's lost her house, hasn't worked in months and the only offer she receives is from a posh supper club in London called Talk of the Town.
Her ex-husband Sid Luft nicely played by Rufus Sewell is breathing down her neck trying to take Lorna and Joey away from her in order to provide a stable home which the kids long for.
Judy arrives in London to a warm London reception but it's clear from the get go that the manager of the nightclub and his assistant are extremely skeptical that Miss Garland can be relied upon to show up every night, We wonder too as she relies more and more on drugs and alcohol to calm her nerves. But, go on she does and tears the house down on opening night.
However, Miss Garland is sometimes difficult to coax on stage some nights and shows up late at others. The Irish singer, Val Doonican as played by British actor, John Dagleish is kept in the wings as a back up which infuriates Judy.
The only bright spot in her personal life is Mickey Deans, an American musician and entrepreneur, ably played by Finn Wittrock. One wonders if he's in it for the money or if he really cares about Judy. One walks away from the movie wondering which. But he gives Judy the stability she needs to keep going on night after night until he botches a deal to have a chain of Judy Garland theaters.
All of Judy's anger pours out on Mickey and she walks out of their hotel suite to wander the streets of London. She calls her children in L.A. and talks to Lorna who admits that she prefers staying with daddy. That's the final nail in the coffin...literally. She's an incoherent mess when she does show up at Talk of the Town and gets fired.
The next night she persuades Val Doonican, her substitute, to let her go on for one last song - something she feels she owes the audience. Like the phoenix she always was her entire life, she wows the audience and when she can't finish "Over the Rainbow," two fans start to sing it for her and the audience joins in wholeheartedly.
Fade out!
Run, don't walk to see this movie before it disappears from the theaters. You have to experience "Judy" on the big screen in thundering stereo.
Rating: PG-13
Starring: Renée Zellweger, Finn Wittrock, Jessie Buckley, Rufus Sewell, Michael Gambon
Directed By: Rupert Goold
Written By: Tom Edge
Runtime: 118 minutes
Studio: Roadside Attractions/LD Entertainment
She's back! You know, Judy! And if you have to ask, "Judy who?" then you probably don't want to see this movie. Renee Zellweger recreates the Judy Garland of the final year of her life perfectly in the new movie simply titled , "Judy." She looks remarkable like Judy, talks like her, walks like her and gesticulates like her. As for the singing, I thought it would bother me that Renee was going to use her own voice but you know something? It works! Zellweger was not a singer but was trained to sing Judy's greatest hits. She captures the real Judy very well because at this stage in her career, just 6 months before her untimely death 6 months later in June of 1969, Judy was not in good voice most nights.
The plot revolves around Judy's final attempt to jump start her career once again in order to keep her children. She's lost her house, hasn't worked in months and the only offer she receives is from a posh supper club in London called Talk of the Town.
Her ex-husband Sid Luft nicely played by Rufus Sewell is breathing down her neck trying to take Lorna and Joey away from her in order to provide a stable home which the kids long for.
Judy arrives in London to a warm London reception but it's clear from the get go that the manager of the nightclub and his assistant are extremely skeptical that Miss Garland can be relied upon to show up every night, We wonder too as she relies more and more on drugs and alcohol to calm her nerves. But, go on she does and tears the house down on opening night.
However, Miss Garland is sometimes difficult to coax on stage some nights and shows up late at others. The Irish singer, Val Doonican as played by British actor, John Dagleish is kept in the wings as a back up which infuriates Judy.
The only bright spot in her personal life is Mickey Deans, an American musician and entrepreneur, ably played by Finn Wittrock. One wonders if he's in it for the money or if he really cares about Judy. One walks away from the movie wondering which. But he gives Judy the stability she needs to keep going on night after night until he botches a deal to have a chain of Judy Garland theaters.
All of Judy's anger pours out on Mickey and she walks out of their hotel suite to wander the streets of London. She calls her children in L.A. and talks to Lorna who admits that she prefers staying with daddy. That's the final nail in the coffin...literally. She's an incoherent mess when she does show up at Talk of the Town and gets fired.
The next night she persuades Val Doonican, her substitute, to let her go on for one last song - something she feels she owes the audience. Like the phoenix she always was her entire life, she wows the audience and when she can't finish "Over the Rainbow," two fans start to sing it for her and the audience joins in wholeheartedly.
Fade out!
Run, don't walk to see this movie before it disappears from the theaters. You have to experience "Judy" on the big screen in thundering stereo.
Rating: PG-13
Starring: Renée Zellweger, Finn Wittrock, Jessie Buckley, Rufus Sewell, Michael Gambon
Directed By: Rupert Goold
Written By: Tom Edge
Runtime: 118 minutes
Studio: Roadside Attractions/LD Entertainment
Frank Ioele grew up in New York City where he enjoyed the wonders of the theatre and opera from a young age. He retired to sunny Florida where he collects antique recordings and music players when he is not traveling the world.
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Sunny Harbor Publishing
Sunny Harbor Publishing, PO Box 560318, Rockledge, FL 32956 Phone: 321-252-9874 Email: [email protected] Website: www.SunnyHarborPublishing.org |
Want to read more fantastic travel articles?
Choose a magazine below that fits your travel interests!
Choose a magazine below that fits your travel interests!
|
|
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