Judy

THE GIST: Now in the twilight of her career and with her prospects in America drying up, Judy Garland travels to London for a series of concerts. She's still beloved by her fans, but her lifelong addiction to drugs and alcohol follows her everywhere. Will she be able to triumph over her personal demons?

Through the years I've heard some of Judy Garland's recordings and watched some of her movies. I certainly like her powerful voice, but mostly it's her charisma that makes all her work worthwhile and unique.

Ultimately, her life story runs the gamut from the highest peaks of show biz success to the lowest depths of mental depression and substance abuse. Naturally, a film about her was not to be missed.

Judy is a good enough movie that ultimately doesn't really soar, other than for Renée Zellweger's performance, which ended up earning her a second Oscar.

The costumes, sets, and makeup are all great, and the script is well written.

THE BOTTOM LINE: If you like or appreciate Judy Garland or old-Hollywood megastars, then definitely check out Judy. It's not fantastic, but it doesn't disappoint.

Grade: 7