Life w/ Judy Garland: Me & My Shadows

[PJ]

Posted: 6/29/05 at 1:52am

After over four years, I finally rented this made-for-television movie at Blockbuster this evening and all I can say is "wow." I am literally in awe of Judy Davis' and Tammy Blanchard's stunning performances. Thank goodness each of these women were awarded an Emmy for their gorgeous portrayals of Judy Garland.

My only complaint is that I believe they started using Judy Davis a bit too early. She looked far too old to play Judy when she was filming Meet Me in St. Louis and Tammy should have been used. But like I said, this is my only problem with the film. And I can truly say that this is best tv movie I've ever seen.

Any thoughts or opinions?

[FosseBoi]

Posted: 6/29/05 at 1:55am

I havnt seen it since it came out. But I DO remember LOVING it! I LOVED Tammy in it! I would LOVE to see it again!

[DAME]

Posted: 6/29/05 at 1:56am

Wonderful film. I bought the dvd.

[PJ]

Posted: 6/29/05 at 1:57am

I may have to go out and buy it myself. This is actually something I could see myself watching more than once.

[DAME]

Posted: 6/29/05 at 1:58am

I pop it in every once in a while. Judy davis is just fierce in it.

[feinstein9]

Posted: 6/29/05 at 2:08am

very very good film. all the performances are strong, and the teleplay doesn't delve into camp when it could. i haven't seen it since it first aired, but i remember watching it and feeling a connection to judy. i went out and bought the book lorna luft wrote about her mum, which has the same name as the movie. luft isn't a very gifted writer but she does give that fly-on-the-wall type of insight into the life of judy garland, in a way that others can only speculate about. quite a good read and quite a good film.

[Justice]

Posted: 6/29/05 at 3:30am

I love this movie...
As for bringing Judy Davis in too early...
Have you seen "Meet Me in St. Louis"?
Judy, at the age of 22, looked like 32. True Davis looked older than 32, yet it worked, because Blanchard still had a very young look to her that would have nevr matched Garland's 22 age.
Davis is freakin' fantastic in everything - Impromptu, The Ref, etc.

[Glebb]

Posted: 6/29/05 at 7:55am

Love Davis and love her performance in this tele-film but she looks too sour to play Esther Smith. Judy had a very sweet, very youthful and beautiful face in Meet Me in St. Louis. I do understand why Davis enters the film at this point. If I were a star of her considerable gifts and cache, I would demand to enter the film at that exact point.

[ConvinceMe2]

Posted: 6/29/05 at 8:18am

I agree that Davis comes into the film too early (I found it jarring). I preferred Blanchard's portrayal over Davis'. When I was watching the segments with Blanchard, I felt I was watching a Judy Garland movie. The segments with Davis, I was watching someone play Judy Garland. Very well, I might add; but I never forgot I was watching someone "act" the role.

Updated On: 6/29/05 at 08:18 AM

[Glebb]

Posted: 6/29/05 at 8:20am

Davis is spot on as fat Judy and her Deanna Durbin knock is hysterical.

[baddadnpa]

Posted: 6/29/05 at 8:21am

I agree - way too early. As this was a two parter when originally aired on TV, Tammy should've closed the first hour with Judy Davis picking up at the beginning of the second. Tammy more resembles Garland's Esther than Davis does. It is very jarring to see the sudden change.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/29/05 at 8:25am

Justice and Glebb are absolutely right--they had to switch to the star at a point that would give her at least 60% of the movie.

But the reason the switchover is so jarring is that Tammy Blanchard turned out to be much better than anyone ever imagined the actress playing the first part of the movie would be. When they wrote the script, they imagined that the viewer would be saying, "Enough of this kid--give us Judy Davis already."

You can just tell that Garland would have loved both those performances.

[Mother's Younger Brother]

Posted: 6/29/05 at 10:50am

I agree - Davis was brought in too early. I still love her though. But I beg you all, read Lorna's book (on which the movie is based). While the movie is told very much from Judy's perspective, the book is 100% Lorna's experience. What an amazingly strong and brave little girl she was.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 6/29/05 at 11:07am

Judy Davis as Judy Garland was the epitome of a tour-de-force performance. Tammy Blanchard was also stunning as Young Judy.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 6/29/05 at 11:17am

I also agree that Blanchard was a young Garland, while Davis was someone portraying Garland. There wasn't enough "there" there for me.

And Lorna's book is wonderful and fascinating.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/29/05 at 12:44pm

So much love for Lorna's book! I love it! ;-}

Some of us saw her this weekend in South Jersey perform her Songs My Mother Taught Me with a large pops orchestra playing those amazing Nelson Riddle and Mort Lindsay arrangements--and the Carnegie Hall overture!

She sounded better than ever--even reaching a place of surprising vulnerability on "The Man That Got Away." She'll never be the throbbing robin her mother was and her sister has been, but she's got a voice that shatter concrete and she's a survivor.

[DAME]

Posted: 6/29/05 at 12:45pm

That show gave me the creeps. Sorry.

[baddadnpa]

Posted: 6/29/05 at 12:46pm

She is a much better singer than Liza, who I am most definitely not a fan of. Lorna has more of her mother's talent and it is unfortunate that she isn't more successful.

[DAME]

Posted: 6/29/05 at 12:49pm

Sorry; Lorna would kill to have any of Lizas talent. No comparison whatsever.

[baddadnpa]

Posted: 6/29/05 at 12:50pm

We will have to agree to disagree. The only thing I've ever liked from Liza is Cabaret. Other than that, I would go running from the room.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/29/05 at 12:51pm

So you've said, Dame. Several times. Kiss, kiss.

[ConvinceMe2]

Posted: 6/29/05 at 12:53pm

I didn't even like CABARET. I did like LIZA WITH A Z, however. Otherwise, I find Lorna to be a MUCH better singer.

[baddadnpa]

Posted: 6/29/05 at 12:55pm

I agree CM2 - Lorna is by the far the more talented of the two vocally. Much more like her mother.

Posted: 6/29/05 at 12:55pm

Most people find Lorna's voice a much more traditionally stong one. However, what Liza got from her mother was stage presense - in spades. That's why she's a star, and Lorna's had to make do with moderate artistic success.

[baddadnpa]

Posted: 6/29/05 at 12:56pm

DGrant, I agree - Lisa does have stage presence. Then she opens her mouth...