Judy (2019)

In 1968 London, the legendary Judy Garland (Renee Zellweger) arrives for a five week run at a nightclub. With her finances in a precarious state and emotionally fragile, she hopes to make enough money to stop touring and stay home with her children. Based on the play END OF THE RAINBOW by Peter Quilter and directed by Rupert Goold. As far as movie bios go, this one is pretty decent although it doesn't tell us anything that we didn't already know about Judy Garland. The movie is strongest when it stays with Garland in London and at its weakest during the flashbacks to her early days as a juvenile at MGM. But the real reason to see this film is for the amazing performance by Zellweger as Garland. Her transformation is incredible yet it's not an imitation but an inhabitation of Garland. Fortunately, the film makers let Zellweger do her own singing rather than lip syncing to Garland (like Judy Davis did in the TV bio) and Zellweger is able to add another layer to her performance. I also very much liked Jessie Buckley's subtle work as Garland's harried assistance. With Rufus Sewell, Finn Wittrock, Michael Gambon and Darci Shaw as the young Judy Garland.