Judy (2019)

It is good to have Renee Zellweger back. She takes this tour de force role and owns it, making an incredibly watchable tribute to a legend and reminding us that she is a tremendous actor. Actors playing famous actors have a unique challenge is making sure they don't fall into parody or mimicry but also making us see that actor and not themselves. Zellweger pulls of a fabulous performance.She pulls off the singing remarkably, paying highest respect to Garland.

I'm not sure there is anything truly revelatory in Judy. Hollywood planted the seeds of destruction in her, the way the Hollywood machine does to women in its industry, and eventually those seeds destroyed her. But along the way her magic shone through and inspired people, even when she was struggling the hardest. But that rather predictable story doesn't stop director Rupert Goold from making a lush and delicious movie which is entertaining and tragic like its subject. Judy is a delight to watch with just the right amount of rose coloured glasses and lavish production numbers making this film a treat for audiences and a love letter to Garland.

Judy
Starring: Renee Zellweger, Jesse Buckley, Rufus Sewell, Michael Gambon, Finn Witrrock, Royce Pierreson
Director: Rupert Goold
Writer: Tom Edge