Judy

         Renee Zellweger is Judy Garland in this biographical drama of Ms. Garland towards the end of her career. The film focuses on the five weeks of live shows at the "Talk of The Town" club in London 1969. There are flashbacks to her childhood on the set while filming "The Wizard of Oz" but the majority of the film finds Ms. Garland near the end of her tragic showbiz life.

         Ms. Zellweger owns the film. She is in almost every frame (except for the flashbacks) and her performance is quite simply astonishing. She captures Mr.s Garland's vocal style and mannerisms perfectly. You can't keep your eyes off her, even while her performance breaks your heart. Without a doubt, this film puts her at the head of the Oscar class for this year's best actress.

         The film co-stars Finn Wittrock, as Mickey Deans (Judy's last husband), Rufus Sewell as Sidney Luft, (her third husband and father of Lorna and Joey),  Gemma Leigh-Devereux as Liza Minnelli, Michael Gambon as Bernard Delfont, Jessie Buckley as Rosealyn Wilder and Richard Cordery as Louis B. Mayer. Dari Shaw plays the young Judy in the flashbacks.

         Despite what may really be known about Ms. Garland, the film certainly paints her as a sympathetic character, used and abused by the Hollywood system from which she never recovered.  Despite the concerts, Oscar nominations, TV show and years of accolades, Ms. Garland's life was a terrible tragedy and the film pulls no punches in it's depiction of her alcoholism, drug addiction, and depression, even while she gathers the strength to still wow an audience. And Ms. Zellweger's performance will wow you just the same.