Judy (2019)

(Image Source: IMDb)

For as long as I could remember, one of my favorite films (if not my absolute favorite) has always been 1939's The Wizard of Oz. Consequently, it lead to Judy Garland becoming one of my favorite actresses of all time due to her beautiful rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow; a song that has also become one of my favorite musical numbers in a film (next to Proud of Your Boy and Who Am I). When I first saw the trailer for the biopic surrounding her life, I was excited and had such high hopes for the film. Thankfully, it not only lived up to my expectations, but far exceeded them as well! 

It beautifully retold the story of one of my favorite golden age actresses, flashing back and forth between her prime as an actress, along with showing roughly the final year of her life (while she performed in London). The flashbacks served to further develop Garland, and provided a solid context for the issues she faced later on in her life. These small insights into her earlier life were easily my favorite parts of the film, and I wish there were more of them to further develop her. Another insight I found interesting was the look into the darker side of the film industry, especially in regard to child actors. The plot was one that was definitely unforgettable, and that was attributed to Garland's actress, Renee Zellweger. 

Not only did Zellweger perfectly portray Miss Garland in both character and voice, the filmmakers also managed to give her a near identical appearance to the actress/singer. She absolutely nailed the role and put on a performance that makes the viewer forget it is somebody else playing her. If the MPAA is somehow reading this, do me a huge favor and please give this woman an Oscar! She certainly deserves it for her amazing performance! When she sang her rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow, it took a lot of effort to hold back some tears for her cover. Matter of fact, I am seriously considering buying the soundtrack for this film as I type this post as a result.

If you are wanting to see this, I would highly recommend it; it is one that will move you to tears and sympathize with the protagonist during her final years. However, if you were looking for a film that showcases Garland's life as a whole, then this might not be the film for you. This movie specifically covers her final year and her last performances in London, with only small flashbacks to her earlier career as an actress.

After seeing this amazing film, I am hoping to look more into Garland's life and see some other films she has appeared in to further understand her career. My knowledge of her is extremely limited due to only knowing her from The Wizard of Oz.
What is your favorite Judy Garland role? (I ask so I can see more of her career) If you have seen this movie, what do you think? Feel free to discuss in the comments below, like this review and subscribe for more Reviews and Retrospectives content!