Judy

Hail Mary. Full of grace. And now, Hail Judy. Full of pharmaceuticals. Propelled by perpetual sorrow, the archetype carries on in Rupert Goold's lavish take on Judy Garland's finale

It's a period in her career that few are aware of, and a poignant coda to a life which has since become the quintessential cautionary tale of a former child star.

Judy broke me. Wonder, joy, melancholy and hope, these are the words that describe Renée's stupendously charming performance and the film as a whole.

Typical biopic procedures are found in a film that, just like its main character, is emotionally wobbly. Zellweger is the one who saves the film from the most terrible defeat.

An immaculate acting display that ensures we see Garland as a real human, and not just the diva she could have been portrayed as.

The result is a moving study of a talented performer who never found the love she so clearly craved.

Renée Zellweger gives a knockout performance as a beleaguered Judy Garland in the last months of her life in this dramatic and affecting musical biopic. Zellweger also sings Garland's songs with dramatic flair.

Judy is by no means a perfect film... but it does attempt, and achieves with some success, to colour the increasing output of biopics with a different shade of the queer rainbow.

Somewhere over the rainbow, there's a good film to be made about the life of a Hollywood icon like Garland. Unfortunately, Judy largely misses the mark.

She's quite the tragic figure, elegantly portrayed by Zellwegger, who shines even brighter during the singing scenes. [Full review in Spanish]