Life With Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows (2001) (TV)

This biography on the great Judy Garland is a triumph, it both captures the pain and humour of the life led buy Ms Garland and Judy Davis and Tammy Blanchard (as young Judy) bring her to life beautifully. While there may be some historical inaccuracies (i couldn't name them but with these kinds of movies there generally are) but all things concerned it's pretty good.

Of course, it had it's weak spots like any movie. Dwayne Adams who played Mickey Rooney looked nothing like him and he was pretty weak in the acting category, the girl(s) who played Liza Minnelli didn't look much like her but sounded somewhat like her. During the brief Meet Me In St Louis part Judy Davis (who took over from there on out) looked older than Judy Garland when she did that particular film. In some scenes Davis doesn't look all that much like Garland while in others she suits her perfectly. Case in point the first meeting between Judy and Sidney Luft, she looked very little like  her (although i think the eyes and smile were about right) but in the scenes later in the film she looks just like her and it's amazing to watch.

Cynthia Gibb (of Gypsy [1993] fame) narrates competently i suppose. While i sometimes believe the movie could have done without the narration i think that it was only right considering it was based on the Lorna Luft (what a cool name) book of the same title.

It is often difficult to watch, especially when we see Judy (played in this part by Tammy Blanchard) torn up over Artie Shaw (played by Stewart Bick) eloping with Lana Turner. And then there is the Academy Awards. it's just so sad that she didn't win and what's even sadder is that we all know that she should have won. Of course, no disrespect to Grace Kelly who won that year but i'm not sure that A Country Girl was the particular movie she should have won for.
Butr something that is quite amazing is the sense of optimism and humour Ms Garland had, it almost seems amazing that this person who everyone will always see as Dorothy had this whole other side- the real person. In my opinion there are 3 facets to every movie star (especially classic ones) 1. movie persona (in this case innocent characters like Dorothy) 2. the myth and 3. the real person.

To conclude i found the film difficult to watch in some parts because of how sad it was that such a talented woman could be treated unfairly but knowing that she didn't see herself as tragic and didn't feel sorry for herself comforted the audience (me) in some way. I don't think i would ever watch it again because once is enough but this truly an exceptional movie that should be viewed by Judy Garlands fans, people who like classic Hollywood and well.... i think everyone should see it.

"I got rainbows coming out of my ass" Judy Garland (Judy Davis), Life with Judy Garland: me and my shadows.