Review: Judy

Image courtesy of Roadside Attractions.

Judy Garland's story is a tragic one, and the new biopic that follows a series of performances she held in London just a short period of time before she died at age 47 of a barbiturate overdose is about what you'd expect of a film of that type. In other words, it's somewhat formulaic.

That being said, the film mostly still works due to its leading lady - Renee Zellweger, in her best role in some time. Even when the film takes the road we all know it'll take, Zellweger's committed portrayal of Garland keeps it compelling.

The picture flashes back and forth between Garland at a young age acting defiantly toward studio head Louis B. Mayer, portrayed here as somewhat of a bully and lecher, during the making of "The Wizard of Oz" and being denied a relationship with Mickey Rooney, and her later years in which she is moving from place to place, often with her kids in tow.

Older Judy is having trouble landing a gig and she's afraid of losing a custody battle to a previous husband (Rufus Sewell, another actor I haven't seen in a while). Meanwhile, she tags along with daughter Liza to a party, pops some pills (a habit seemingly formed from her early studio days) and drinks - a lot. She becomes romantically involved with a younger bartender/entrepreneur (Finn Wittrock), who sells her dreams of a comeback.

Finally, she lands a gig in London performing a series of shows for a theater operated by characters played by Michael Gambon and Jessie Buckley (of the summer indie hit "Wild Rose"). But poor Judy is a mess, and half the performances end up being marred by her drunken antics, which involve insulting booing patrons. Director Rupert Goold's picture isn't interested in much more than observing the decline and crash, which inevitably occurs.

And yet, Zellweger keeps the proceedings interesting with her performance, including the film's musical numbers. Garland was a tragic figure, but Zellweger adds some depth to the character, although the sequences involving the actress's youthful years are the most compelling. "Judy" may paint somewhat by the numbers, but its lead performance offers up some interesting touches.