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Names like Judy Garland, Drew Barrymore and Linsey Lohan are ones
you’ll see on lists about people destroyed by the Hollywood system and
the odious people in it. It was terrible in the thirties and it has been
terrible throughout the entirety of the 20th century, continuing on
into the 21st century. Garland never really escaped the trauma of young
stardom and this film attempts to tell the tale of her final years of
her life before her untimely death at 47.
With the industry caught in a midst of one of the its largest scandals, it seems timely to release a film about a woman who was destroyed by the demands of the industry. The demands to keep thin, the demands to avoid the wrong types of food and the demand to be ‘the girl next door’. The cruel Louis B. Mayer belittled Judy any chance he got, saying she wasn’t as pretty as many other girls and forcing her to take drugs that kept her weight low and frame slender.
Yet the problem is the film is trying to impress the very industry that it should be taking to account. Would a film about the evils of the industry really appeal to the academy voters? Would a film about the destruction of a Hollywood icon due to her treatment at the hands of studio heads, who made many great, award winning movies, really appeal to those who will hand out awards come February? Certainly not as much as more conventional film that celebrates Judy Garland yet doesn’t shy away too far from her woes and issues. It’ll make them feel sympathy but comfortable and its bound to tug at the heart strings. It feels more of film that is a vehicle for Renee Zellweger to nab an Oscar.
It wouldn’t be entirely undeserved at all. It’s a performance that combines Judy’s vulnerability, incredible stage presence, her sharp wit and the fact she could be feisty and difficult to work with. It’s not a sunshine and roses portrayal and there are times you felt Judy could have done something different to alleviate some of her issues, but you are always understanding of her and sympathetic to her difficulties. Zellweger completely sinks into the role and will undoubtedly get a number of nominations come awards season.
For all its issues, it’s a film that works on an emotional level. It’s mostly because of Zellweger’s excellent performance, but the film perfectly makes us wait for film’s most emotional scene and delivers a real hammer blow when it finally comes. It’s appreciative, loving and pensive enough to bat away some of the more cynical complaints.
With the industry caught in a midst of one of the its largest scandals, it seems timely to release a film about a woman who was destroyed by the demands of the industry. The demands to keep thin, the demands to avoid the wrong types of food and the demand to be ‘the girl next door’. The cruel Louis B. Mayer belittled Judy any chance he got, saying she wasn’t as pretty as many other girls and forcing her to take drugs that kept her weight low and frame slender.
Yet the problem is the film is trying to impress the very industry that it should be taking to account. Would a film about the evils of the industry really appeal to the academy voters? Would a film about the destruction of a Hollywood icon due to her treatment at the hands of studio heads, who made many great, award winning movies, really appeal to those who will hand out awards come February? Certainly not as much as more conventional film that celebrates Judy Garland yet doesn’t shy away too far from her woes and issues. It’ll make them feel sympathy but comfortable and its bound to tug at the heart strings. It feels more of film that is a vehicle for Renee Zellweger to nab an Oscar.
It wouldn’t be entirely undeserved at all. It’s a performance that combines Judy’s vulnerability, incredible stage presence, her sharp wit and the fact she could be feisty and difficult to work with. It’s not a sunshine and roses portrayal and there are times you felt Judy could have done something different to alleviate some of her issues, but you are always understanding of her and sympathetic to her difficulties. Zellweger completely sinks into the role and will undoubtedly get a number of nominations come awards season.
For all its issues, it’s a film that works on an emotional level. It’s mostly because of Zellweger’s excellent performance, but the film perfectly makes us wait for film’s most emotional scene and delivers a real hammer blow when it finally comes. It’s appreciative, loving and pensive enough to bat away some of the more cynical complaints.
I normally don't care for Zellweger but she was very good here when I didn't expect her to be. I agree the film has a lot of issues, but she wasn't one of them thankfully.
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