Opinions on new Judy Garland film, Judy, with Renée (Renee ) Zellweger

Discussion in 'Visual Arts' started by Lawrence Schulman, Jun 30, 2018.

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  1. Lawrence Schulman

    Lawrence Schulman Senior Member Thread Starter

    Was wondering about peoples' opinions about the upcoming film on the last months of the life of Judy Garland, called Judy, that is starring Renée Zellweger, who will be singing in the film. Personally, I am divided. I think Garland's life was so complicated that it is virtually impossible to film her whole life. It would take a Federico Fellini to film such a convoluted story. Thus, I think taking a part of that life and making it the subject of a film is a good idea. On the other hand, Judy's end is not pretty. One cannot appreciate her greatness by depicting the tortured last months. One last point, on the negative side, Garland's voice was unique. The fact that Zellweger is going to do her own singing does not augur well for the film. I will see the film, but am expecting the worst.

    Any other opinions....?
     
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  2. Bobby Morrow

    Bobby Morrow Senior Member

    I wish they wouldn’t do these films. They rarely turn out well. It’s a nice job for Renee Zellweger, whose star has fallen in recent years, but I’d rather see a well put together documentary on the life of Judy Garland than a no doubt fictionalised movie account. While it wouldn’t be ideal to have Renee miming to Judy’s music, it makes even less sense to have her singing the songs herself! It’s not like Garland was some two-bit singer.:D
     
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  3. micksmuse

    micksmuse Forum Resident

    Location:
    san diego
    garland-music for sure, valid discussion thread imho

    i can't remember a film about an artist that wasn't at least partially cringe worthy. impossible to display the nuances needed in 2 hours.
    taking the last months could work if there is enough information disclosed at the beginning to show the arc of her career but that would be some really good screenwriting to pull that off. most people who weren't around to appreciate her career would not understand what led up to the end without a good primer on the rest which would deny the end it's meaning and drama.
    have to agree with BM. a well done documentary would be a better primer and update on ms. garland. she deserves nothing less.
     
    Lawrence Schulman likes this.
  4. t-man 54

    t-man 54 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Michigan
    I wouldn't mind seeing it if Judy's family and friends had some input into the film so we could gather what Judy's life was actually like near the end of her life. If this is like an Oliver Stone movie, then no thanks. Last I knew, Judy was a singer who put out a lot of albums. Qualifies both as music and visual arts. So there :)
     
  5. hbbfam

    hbbfam Forum Resident

    Location:
    Chandler,AZ
    Ray?
     
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  6. savemenow

    savemenow Forum Resident

    Location:
    SE Pa
    Yeah, ALL movies have music, so let's change this to the "Music/Movie Forum" So far, no one has mentioned the music in the film, lol. Whatever, have at it!
     
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  7. Bobby Morrow

    Bobby Morrow Senior Member

    I was thinking more along the lines of this.

    [​IMG]
     
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  8. harmonica98

    harmonica98 Senior Member

    Location:
    London, UK
    I'll withhold judgement for now. Having a stage director is an interesting choice. I still think a biopic can give something that a documentary can't.
     
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  9. jjh1959

    jjh1959 Senior Member

    Location:
    St. Charles, MO
  10. pdenny

    pdenny 22-Year SHTV Participation Trophy Recipient

    Location:
    Hawthorne CA
    MRamble and The Hud like this.
  11. Vidiot

    Vidiot Now in 4K HDR!

    Location:
    Hollywood, USA
    That was a bit of a whitewash on Karen Carpenter. There were legal problems involved, and (as one example) they couldn't go into the details of her failed marriage to Texas entrepreneur Jim Burris. Most biographies report that once she realized Burris just wanted to spend all her money, that put her in a tailspin from which she never really recovered. But they couldn't come out and say this in the TV show. Richard Carpenter told me he was also furious at Karen's doctors, and -- while she weighed over 100 pounds when she died -- her system was damaged after years of anorexia, and her heart couldn't stand the strain.

    Judy Garland was a sad story, and the years of ups and downs made her a tragic figure. I can remember watching her 1964 CBS TV show and thinking, "jesus, this woman is absolutely crazy." My mother liked her, but I thought she was overwraught and bizarre. I get that there are fans that like that aspect of her, but I thought Garland's stage performances in the last 10 years of her life were bizarre. Her movies were often fantastic, and I like some of those. Mel Torme (whom she called "Mel Torment"), who was featured in her CBS show, had some pretty hostile stories about working with her in his autobiography.
     
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  12. fuzzface

    fuzzface Forum Resident

    Location:
    Lebanon, MO
    I know an OLD guy where I work who has led an interesting life as a guitar player and session musician in the 60-80s who tells all sorts of cool stories about work I with famous musicians. Listened to him one afternoon tell these incredible stories about spending a few summers out in California with his wealthy aunt when he was 6 or 7. His best friend was Liza and he spent many afternoon's at her house and Judy would always bake cookies and fix lemonade for them. Crazy stories about being over there during some parties with Tyrone Power and all the other big stars at the time. I'm interested in what HE thinks of the movie. Lol
     
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  13. mBen989

    mBen989 Senior Member

    Location:
    Scranton, PA
    Well, what about this?

     
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  14. mpayan

    mpayan A Tad Rolled Off

    Watched several documentaries on her and read the book by Gerald Frank(?) years ago. Judy was such a talent. The best of her era maybe. But she lived in a time in which the mindset was very different. The powers that be worked many of these actresses like dogs it seems. Judy was at the top so they drugged her up and drugged her down to get movie after movie from her. But she was also very very ambitious it seems. She wanted to do anything and everything to be one of the glamor girls. And she paid the price for it. Worn out, strung out, old before her time and probably fairly unhappy.

    No, Id rather just remember her in a good way. I know she died tragically. We dont need a movie like this.
     
  15. Khaki F

    Khaki F Forum Resident

    Location:
    Kenosha, WI. USA
    There's no question it's not gonna be very good. I mean, who else can sing like Judy Garland anyway?

    Still... I'm willing to bet that many people will turn out for it, just to see how not very good it actually is. And that's probably reason enough to make it right there.
     
  16. alexpop

    alexpop Power pop + other bad habits....

  17. I hope I am surprised and this one turns out great. There have been a lot of biopics I like about singers, Buddy Holly, Loretta Lynn, Richie Valens, Johnny Cash, Ray Charles, Selena, Bobby Darin, Patsy Cline, and quite a few others. Success ratio is better than most genres for my money. In this case I don't know much of anything about the writers, director or others involved but that doesn't matter. Trying to picture Renée Zellweger as Judy is a stumbling block for me but I like her and think she is a good actress.

    All I know about Judy's last years are the few recorded performances I have seen, although apparently loved by many, were underwhelming to me so much that I haven't tried to find more and a couple of articles written about her troubled life.
     
  18. sixtiesstereo

    sixtiesstereo Senior Member

    Location:
    Wisconsin
    I'm confused why this film is even necessary. The 2002 film (actually a 2 part TV film) starring
    Judy Davis (who won the Emmy for her remarkable performance) is as good as it's probably
    going to get. Covering her entire life (a younger actress played Judy up through "Wizard Of Oz")
    through her later problems and death, I feel it's a film every Judy fan should be aware of and watch.
    Here's a trailer online:
     
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  19. Chris DeVoe

    Chris DeVoe RIP Vickie Mapes Williams (aka Equipoise)

    It was great!

    By the way, some actors have successfully sung the parts of famous singers - Beverly D'Angelo singing Patsy Cline in Coal Miner's Daughter. Rene Zellweger can sing, and with proper coaching can pull off a good Judy Garland. Too bad they didn't try to make this a decade ago - Jane Horricks can do an astonishing Judy.
     
    Simon A likes this.
  20. REMASTERANTER

    REMASTERANTER Ahhhhhh...

    Location:
    Victoria
    [​IMG]

    Zellweger on set.
     
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  21. REMASTERANTER

    REMASTERANTER Ahhhhhh...

    Location:
    Victoria
    Really?

    I thought it was pretty B-grade.
     
  22. genesim

    genesim Forum Resident

    Location:
    St. Louis
    It will get more material released and for that I am all in. She is the real A Star is Born.
     
  23. JamieC

    JamieC Senior Member

    Location:
    Detroit Mi USA
    When I look at Judy I have to ask did she ever really have a choice? It was all she ever knew. She never had a real childhood or life. That she would be screwed up is almost a given. Her parents, LB Meyer, her various husbands, no one could stop a life long tailspin. And some accelerated it. From a human point of view her talent is secondary.
     
  24. The Panda

    The Panda Forum Mutant

    Location:
    Marple, PA, USA
    Judy looked like hell near the end--like someone 15 years older. The up and down shows, breakdowns (which weren't really understood like today), this is just going to be huge downer, with maybe some redeeming musical moments.
    Some of those Jack Paar appearances of hers were surreal, to say the least.
    I think one of the reasons many people get misty when she sings Rainbow in the movie is knowing she was already in a plane that was going to crash.
     
  25. empire145

    empire145 Forum Resident

    I think Judy was absolutely brilliant and that was surly taken advantage of. As a teenager, working from 5am to 2am, completing one movie, filming another, rehearsals for the next, personal appearances, and radio performances all in one day. And that’s just the teenage years.

    Sure they were paid well (although nothing like today) but how many years can someone withstand that and not rebel or break?

    I don’t know if Zellweger can do this justice. You can’t believe or understand the end unless you know the beginning.
     
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