[REVIEW] Judy (2019) Is Heartbreakingly Beautiful

Judy is a beautiful telling of a devastatingly sad, true story, that highlights the unfortunate mistreatment of our favorite stars in Hollywood. 

Last week on a cloudy Thursday morning I found myself with a bit of spare time on my hands and I decided to take it as an opportunity to sit down, uninterrupted, and watch something that I hadn't seen before. Soon I took to Hulu and found a movie sitting in my recommendations that I was very interested in seeing when it first came out in August of last year, Judy.

I had only been running my YouTube channel Rachel Reviews Everything for a few months back then, and unfortunately my opportunity to see Judy in the theaters had come and gone rather quickly since I hadn't been seeing very many films.

At first, I intended on watching this movie solely for entertainment purposes because admittedly, there wasn't a whole lot that I knew about "The Wizard of Oz" star, Judy Garland; but before long I found myself so intrigued by this telling of her story that I decided to take a few quick notes so that I could share my thoughts on this film with all of you because it's given me a new appreciation for this iconic performer.

The Positive

Thirty years after the legendary singer and actress starred as Dorothy in the timeless classic, "The Wizard of Oz," Judy Garland (portrayed by Renée Zellweger) finds herself broke, homeless, and in need of work as she looks to settle down and start a new life with her two younger children, Lorna and Joe. But as her popularity in America dwindles after being deemed unreliable by showrunners, Garland has no choice but to head to London, England, where fans are still clamoring to see the iconic performer live.

As tickets for her shows at the local nightclub sell out, Garland finds herself in a budding romance with musician and future fifth husband by the name of Mickey Deans, (Finn Wittrock) but despite the recent string of success, she finds herself plagued by the demons of her troubled past and continuously turns to alcohol in a self-destructing effort to cope.

Judy, while beautifully done, isn't necessarily an easy watch as touches on the tragic backstory of Garland's life and career, exploring the hardships of show business and Hollywood that would lead to alcoholism, and addiction at a young age.

As we are shown in this movie, it was Garland's mother who pushed her daughter down the path of drug addiction very early on in her life, as she would provide her with amphetamines, and sleeping pills. Unfortunately, this would lead to Garland's demise as she would later pass away by an accidental overdose at the unfortunate age of forty-seven, leaving behind her three children, including her oldest, Liza Minnelli.

But not just Garland's past that haunts her in the film, it's the combination of both the past and the present that contributes to her fragile mental state as she deals with the aforementioned financial struggles, finds herself fighting with her ex-husband Sid over who should have full custody of their two young children, and later on, we see the first crack in the honeymoon phase of her relationship with her husband Mickey Deans.

Renée Zellweger went on to win an Oscar for best actress after her fabulous performance in Judy, and rightfully so, as I was left absolutely speechless by her portrayal of the late legend.

The fifty-one-year-old actress completely transformed herself into Garland, embracing her mannerisms, inflections, and was able to put her incredible singing voice to good use as she sang some of Garland's most well-known songs.

After listening to Zellweger's performance of "Over The Rainbow" I was able to find Garland's last performance of the song to compare, and while there were some slight differences, I think she did a marvelous job at replicating Garland's voice to the best of her abilities; allowing you to believe, just for a moment that she was the woman this film was based on.

I'm no expert on the performer, but it appears that this movie was able to bring Garland back to the big screen in a respectable way with such beauty and grace, making sure to address her troubles without overshadowing her personality or talent. Garland appeared to be kind and empathetic in the film, the same way she had come off in several of the real-life interviews that I watched of her afterward.

The Negative

Something that I didn't touch on before was that Garland's past is explored through flashbacks of her younger days while working at MGM. The first time we're introduced to Garland is when she's with film producer Louis B. Mayer, having second thoughts as she's about to audition for the role of Dorothy and we're given glimpses of the mistreatment she received from those around her while working at the studio.

Much of what Garland was scrutinized for was her appearance, most often by Mayer. She was placed on strict diets in order to stay "thin enough" for her roles and those around her continued to provide her with pills to help suppress the appetite of the young actress.

These scenes set the tone for the movie and helped the audience to understand what lead up to Garland's behavior in the present day but unfortunately, as the story continues to progress the flashbacks become less frequent throughout the film.

I do wish that the writers would have been a bit more consistent with these scenes as I really felt that they added something special to the film, especially since these flashbacks of the young performer allowed me to care more about Garland as someone who hadn't known much about her prior to the film.

This younger version of Garland was portrayed by actress Darci Shaw, who also deserves a lot of credit for her role in this movie. She gave quite a convincing performance considering she wasn't given a whole lot of screentime to actually work with; it would have been nice to have seen more from her, but sadly, there were missed opportunities where Garland's past could have been further explored and would have given the movie some extra depth.

Conclusion

Overall, I thought that Judy was a heartbreakingly beautiful film; an incredible telling of a devastatingly sad true story, highlighting the dark side of Hollywood and the negative impact that it can have on our favorite performers, such as the late Garland.

As depressing as it may have been for me to sit through at times while knowing that this story wasn't going to have the happiest of endings, I ended up falling in love with the film for its emotional writing, and Renée Zellweger's spectacular performance, following my first viewing of this film, I've definitely walked away with a new found appreciation for Judy Garland.

Have you seen Judy? Please let me know what your thoughts were on the film by leaving me a comment below, and don't forget to follow me over on Twitter @RR_Everything, where I talk about all of the shows and movies that I watch and also provide updates on future reviews! 

 

[REVIEW] The CW's Stargirl (2020-) Is a Must Watch!

This show serves as a reminder that extraordinary things can happen to ordinary people if you choose to embrace the cards you've been dealt with.

Inspired by creator Geoff Johns' late sister, Stargirl first made her debut in 1999 with comic book series "Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E." and while not as many of the casual superhero fans may have heard of this character prior to the show, you'd better believe that Courtney Whitmore and her Cosmic Staff are about to become a new fan favorite! 

I was first introduced to Stargirl growing up when my older brother and I would play against each other in a strategy game called HeroClix where you would collect small figures of your favorite heroes and villains to play as and I remember quite frequently picking Stargirl as my character for two important reasons, I loved her costume, and the gold rod she held in her hands, even though I didn't know what it was called back then. 

So naturally, watching this show for the first time, I was immediately hit by a nice wave of childhood memories as I saw this character being brought to life, and with that, only a few short minutes into the first episode, I was positively hooked and desperate for more!

The Positive

Stargirl follows ordinary high school student Courtney Whitmore (portrayed by actress Brec Bassinger) as she takes on the mantel of Starman after discovering his costume and the Cosmic Staff, a powerful weapon that once belonged to the late superhero. 

Soon she turns to three misfit teenagers in an effort to form the new version of the former superhero group known as the Justice Society of America in order to take down a group of villains who have reemerged in their small town of Blue Valley, Nebraska.  

Originally developed for the streaming service DC Universe, Stargirl is a welcomed addition to The CW for me and appears to be a better fit when you consider the type of content that has been featured on the service such as Titans, Doom Patrol, and the animated series Harley Quinn, all of which contain either more mature themes and/or darker, grittier tones.  

But creator Geoff Johns' lighter, more classic approach to Stargirl is one that I can personally get behind for many different reasons. The show explores tough subjects such as blended families, dealing with loss, growing up without parents, finding your purpose, struggles with morality, self-discovery, acceptance, and more, all while maintaining a sense of hope. 

I've always been a fan of seeing comic-book-inspired shows and movies taking even just a somewhat family-friendly route; I'm no expert on comics, but I can say that superheroes have always played a very important role in my life and that's due to exposure at an early age, and thankfully, season 1 of Stargirl contains little to no suggestive themes and minor language, allowing it to be viewed with whomever you please. Just watch out for the violence, it's pretty hard to have a superhero show without a whole lot of supervillain butt-kicking!

Something else that had me thoroughly impressed with Stargirl was its cast. 
Brec Bassinger brings an imperfect but fiercely ambitious teenaged Courtney Whitmore to life with such enthusiasm, charm, and a burst of energy that has made her an absolute delight to watch on screen. It was also very satisfying for me to watch her once strained relationship with step-father Pat Dugan (Also known as Stripe, played by Luke Wilson) transition to a point where Courtney finally came to value him as not only a father but also as somewhat of a mentor that she and the members of the newly formed version of the JSA can look to for help and guidance as they take on this new responsibility.  

I enjoyed each cast member in their own right but found myself connecting the most with the characters of Rick Tyler (Hourman, played by Cameron Gellman) and Beth Chapel (Doctor Midnite, Anjelika Washington) I felt horrible for the hardships Rick has faced in his life with losing both of his parents and living with his uncle who blames him for everything gone wrong in his life on having to take him in as a child. I have an uncle that blames me for all of his issues too, Rick. I feel you. 

Beth's personality reminded me of a more talkative and outgoing version of myself when I was a teen. We're shown at the beginning of the series that Beth, much like Courtney, Rick, and Yolanda (Yvette Monreal) doesn't have any friends and is shown slightly getting on her parents' nerves by her being so attached to them. Don't worry Beth, I liked hanging out with my parents too. Still do!

The Negative

I can almost always find some sort of imperfection in the shows I've watched from a viewer perspective, however, in a rare case, I don't have a single thing to complain about when it comes to season one of Stargirl. But, there is one very minor thing in this first season that I do hope they plan to tackle in the next. 

While I love both Stargirl and Hourman's costumes, Yolanda's Wildcat and Beth's Doctor Midnite costumes leave less to be desired. Yolanda's suit is fine being that it forms to the body of the person who wears it, but the mask doesn't appear to do the same, causing it to look rather big and a bit too goofy in my opinion.  

Beth is wearing Doctor Midnite's original costume which was made to fit a man and while it was amusing to see her run around in the outfit, I'd love to see her get something that fits her better so that she can soon be taken as seriously as the others. 

That being said I can only assume that these are not their final costumes in the show. They weren't supposed to have been made specifically for them after all so I fully expect them to put their own spin on them just as Courtney did with Starman's attire. 

Conclusion

Watching The CW's Stargirl was nothing short of a sheer delight for me. From its relatable storylines and characters to its incredible action scenes, the show is an absolute must-watch for any DC fan!

This show serves as a reminder that extraordinary things can happen to ordinary people if you choose to embrace the cards you've been dealt with. And, if you're like me, then you'll more than likely adore this show for its lightheartedness, as well as some truly epic action scenes.  

I'm sure that some more experienced critics out there could have found some flaws that I didn't catch but even if it were based on my enjoyment alone, Stargirl's first season receives a five out of five-star rating from me! I was hooked from the start and loved every minute of it.

Be sure to let me know all of your thoughts on the first season of Stargirl and what you would like to see in the next! You can follow me over on Twitter @RR_Everything, that's where I talk about all kinds of shows and movies and also give updates on future reviews. I'm looking forward to hearing from you!

[REVIEW] Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase (2019) Doesn't Quite Meet The Character's Full Potential...

Writers are struggling to pull Nancy Drew into the 21st century without unintentionally stripping a bit of the young sleuth's signature charm... 

This year I've grown quite interested in the world of Nancy Drew to the point where I have spent a lot of my time during COVID-19 researching and reading the books, looking into the "HeR Interactive" computer game series, and even watching what I felt to be the not-so-great series on the CW. (which you can watch my YouTube review of here) And earlier this year, I decided to check out her latest big-screen adaptation for the first time.  

Maybe it was the anticipation for Halloween but I've been in the mood for a good mystery and decided to revisit a film that I watched a couple of months ago for free on the Roku channel, Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase.

I still remember going to the movie theater with my mom to see the 2007 Nancy Drew film starring Emma Roberts. I had to have been around eleven and I absolutely loved that movie at the time. I may have to revisit that one in the near future as well. 

But after watching the 2019 version of the popular sleuth once more, I found that my thoughts on it hadn't changed too terribly much. So shall we begin our investigation? 

The Positive

Directed by Katt Shea and based on the popular Carolyn Keene mystery novel first published in 1930, Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase follows our favorite teen detective, this time portrayed by "IT" and "I Am Not Okay With This" star Sophia Lillis, as she and the local mean girl, Helen Corning (Laura Slade Wiggins) team up to investigate the haunting of Twin Elms in order to put Helen's aunt, Flora (played by Linda Lavin) at ease after she begins to experience some paranormal activity in her home.   

Sporting a new short haircut, flannel shirts, ripped jeans, and vans while riding around on a skateboard for the majority of the movie, Nancy Drew and The Hidden Staircase features a slightly different take on this legendary character; but don't let the skater-girl attitude fool you, Nancy is still bright, outgoing, curious, and sometimes just a little bit mischievous.  

The casting of 18-year-old Sophia Lillis as the iconic Nancy Drew was probably the highlight of this movie for me. In addition to the refreshing new look for the famous detective, she also brought a certain amount of energy and spunk to the character. Sophia Lillis was enjoyable enough as Nancy Drew, and should there be more movies in the future, I'd be fine with her coming back to reprise her role. 

The film features several encouraging messages of female empowerment, friendship, and morality. Nancy sees it as her civic duty to bring forth justice, therefore with every action that she takes, even if it's getting revenge on a bully, it's always done for selfless reasons. 

Throughout my viewing, I couldn't help but think about how this movie felt like a mix between a Disney Channel production with a slight American Girl vibe, anyone remember Kit Kittredge: An American Girl? I think I make that connection since that also had a bit of a mystery involved. But Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase comes with the tiniest bit of an edge to it in comparison; I'm aware of how comparing this film to those may not sound like very much, but I enjoyed those movies back in the day and I think it works for the target audience. 

The Negative

As far as our negatives go, I'll just cut to the chase and start out with what is admittedly my most nit-picky issue. As I touched on before, Nancy's personality in this film did work pretty well for me, however...I just can't say the same when it comes to her new wardrobe. 

I've been dying to see Nancy Drew in a slightly more vintage style. Something more toned down from the old Emma Roberts movie, but still channeling that time period the character was first created in; I could totally see a modern-day teen detective being intrigued by the 1930s fashion and incorporating thrifted items from that time period into her wardrobe, couldn't you? 

But the film didn't do that and instead opted for the whole skater-girl style, which, unfortunately, seemed a bit forced and came off as a rather weak attempt to modernize the character, it just didn't work for me. I think instead of trying to fit the character into modern times, writers should allow Nancy herself to be a sweet little nod to the past.

Now switching gears to what I consider to be a more reasonable criticism, I don't think the writers did a very good job introducing the characters in this movie. It felt as if it took ages to learn the names of certain characters such as Helen who ends up being Nancy's sidekick throughout the entire movie, and George, one of her very best friends.

From having the bit of Nancy Drew knowledge that I have, I was able to put the pieces together and figure out who these people were supposed to be, but I'd imagine it would have been frustrating had you not known of these characters beforehand. 

And lastly, I felt that this movie could have been better had they focused on the haunting of Twin Elms a little more, but they definitely went off track for a bit. To be fair, everything did connect to the main story but I personally, would have preferred if they had spent more time at the house rather than Nancy spending so much time investigating the mystery outside of it; things really started to drag after a while. 

Conclusion

Admittedly I did go into this movie with relatively low expectations; I hadn't heard too many good things about it from critics when it first came out but I think lowering my expectations allowed me to enjoy the film a little bit more than I would have, had I went in more hopeful.   

The ending was predictable and still didn't give me the Nancy Drew that I've been clamoring for but in the end, I didn't find myself walking away from the movie feeling that it was a huge waste of my time either. For the most part, it did keep me entertained for about an hour and a half and that's what it was meant to do. 

This wasn't a bad depiction of Nancy Drew by any means but I do think that the writers struggled to pull the character into the 21st century without unintentionally stripping a bit of the young sleuth's signature charm... 

I've given Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase what I consider to be a high three out of five stars. I was real close to giving it four when I thought about the target audience but ultimately gave it three when thinking of how much I enjoyed it myself. It wasn't great but I wouldn't feel comfortable calling it bad, either, it was just...Fair. 

Have you seen Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase? If so, let me know what you thought of it over on twitter @RR_Everything! That's where I talk about all kinds of shows and movies and also give updates on future reviews and YouTube videos! Be sure to follow me if you're interested. I can't wait to hear from you!