As I entered the lavish main screening room of the Coolidge Corner Theatre, I knew this was the only place I could receive an authentic experience of a Judy Garland biopic. Moments after an effervescent title sequence, I felt as though Renee Zellweger, who plays Garland in the film, had reached out from the center of the screen, took my hand, and transported me back to a lost era. Many consider Garland’s time as the “golden age of cinema.” This, while Rupert Goold’s new directorial effort tells us that even in this romanticized age, this was also a time before the “Me Too” movement. The film is a somber effort, but one in which a palpable sense of melancholy translates so effectively that at times, it’s almost impossible to look away from it.
Listen carefully, and remember you heard it here first. This Oscar season, you can feel comfortable betting the bank on a Renee Zellweger “Best Actress” win, because it is inevitable. Zellweger is a tour de four transformation and an absolute force of nature. It’s a performance and character completely stripped of glamour; one the audience should feel so compelled by that even blinking will feel akin to a bathroom break. She evokes Garland’s thinly veiled masks with raw authenticity. Her résurrection of Garland’s caustic wit, domineering presence, and mannerisms are strikingly emulative without submission into impression or caricature. The range of emotion on display is truly astounding in accord to Garland’s volatile and vulnerable affect. The film finds its stride in this unbiased portrayal, as her plight is delineated with unflinching sincerity.
I had anticipated that the filmmakers would ultimately lionize Garland, after the relentless barrage of obstacles she had endured in her short lifetime. To my surprise, this was not the case, and by the end of the film, I discovered that even someone who had fortune and fame can still be unequivocally human. The film boldly abandons the celebration of her accolades for a heartbreaking and compassionate character study. While there is real empathy and admiration towards the character, we are never emotionally manipulated or forced to agree with her behavior. In fact, I feel that it is within the representation of her inert nature that we find that identification. Its a portrayal of someone who has overstayed their welcome, and is making choices out of desperation and self-sabotage. I found this relatable on a universal level. While every frame is drenched in lush, nostalgic decor, there is inescapable despair as Garland rolls with the punches for better or worse. This juxtaposition is made so expertly. He balances theme and visual pageantry so seamlessly that it would be a mistake not to consider his potential going forward.
“Judy” suitably subverts the norm of the Hollywood biopic in accord with the incredibly complicated icon’s legacy. While it’s emotional resonance may feel overbearing for viewers chasing rainbows, that is only a testament to its efficacy. Audiences with an appetite for truth will devour “Judy” ravenously, even if doing so causes tears to be shed.
My Score: 8.3/10