PROVOKR Pick: JUDY
Renée Zellweger Goes Over the Rainbow
What do you think of when you hear the name Judy Garland? You probably picture the young girl with an amazing set of pipes, singing “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” in The Wizard of Oz. You probably don’t think of the woman she grew into. But everyone has to cross over the rainbow of youth into adulthood, and not everyone’s journey is an easy one. Despite the fame and early success Garland attained, her short life was marked by tragedy and addiction. Rupert Goold’s new biopic, Judy, chronicles the tumultuous last few months of Garland’s life.
Judy follows a series of sold-out concerts that Judy Garland performed in London at the Talk of the Town in 1969 until her death in June of 1969 at the age of 47. In addition to following the last months of Garland’s life, the film flashes back to her younger years, and her tragic past. The film was directed by Rupert Goold from a screenplay written by Tom Edge, adapted from the Olivier and Tony-nominated stage play End of the Rainbow by Peter Quilter. Judy stars Renée Zellweger as the titular Judy Garland. In addition to Zellweger, the film also stars Rufus Sewell, Michael Gambon, Finn Witrock, Jesse Buckley, and Bella Ramsey.
Judy had its world premiere on August 30, 2019 at the Telluride Film Festival, it also screened on September 10, 2019 at the Toronto International Film Festival. Judy has been racking up widespread acclaim wherever it goes, with lots of buzz for Zellweger’s performance and even talk of Oscar nominations.
Judy comes out in theaters on September 27, 2019.