Film - Judy

We are introduced to the screen legend through little glimpses into her pressurised childhood with little love. We see her being filmed not eating a hamburger whilst her male co-host is allowed to tuck right in. In a moment of rebellion, the young Judy Garland manages to discard her monster of a ‘minder’ and jumps into a prop swimming pool. I’m unclear as to what to read into her being reprimanded alone in an isolated room by Louis B Mayer (an M in MGM), the much older, powerful filmmaker.

These early years have had to have an effect and we skip through to Judy in middle age struggling to keep afloat with two children in tow and believing that every man who gives her attention is a good guy. We are now several husbands later and the film star needs money. The film opens with her living in an ill-afforded luxury hotel and then focusses on her time undertaking a residency in London one December to earn some essential cash. 

Some nights she would show her true star quality and others while intoxicated on drink, being rude to the audience who have paid to see her. I loved that Lonnie Donegan was the stand-in. I also enjoyed it every time her two gay superfans popped up on the screen which leads to some unlikely, dreamy scenes.

Judy is a sad watch, especially looking back at her story through 2019 eyes.

7/10