When a performance becomes an undeniable front runner for awards, sometimes the chatter becomes all about that and we lose a sense of why it became a juggernaut in the first place. January promises to be full of trips to podiums at awards shows for Renee Zellweger as Judy. However before we start analyzing the speeches, let’s take a look back at the the performance itself. A merging of three aspects, Zellweger’s performance is deserving of accolades...
First it’s a star turn. She’s giving us her Zellwegerian magnetism. You can not miss the Zellweger tics. The fluttering of the eyes, the cock of the head. We look at her as Judy and know that it is the same actress who played Bridget Jones, Roxie Hart and Barbra Novak. It’s what a star would do, she’s the character and she is openly herself. She is not trying to hide completely under the skin of someone else. And for that we love her and revel in her screen presence. Welcome back to movie stardom, Renee, you were missed!
Secondly Zellweger pays recognizable homage to Garland. Her take on Garland is very smart. Zellweger knows that she can’t replace Garland or erase her from the memories of those who love her. So she pays respectful homage. She builds the performance bit by bit, always giving a nod but never going full transformation. She got Garland’s body language if not an exact imitation of the way she moves. She finds a way to channel Garland’s singing voice and the way Garland spit words while singing. That’s made easier by the fact that the film takes place during the last months of Garland, when her voice wasn’t as strong. She has Garland’s hair and costumes but doesn’t alter her appearance much beyond that. She finds the right balance so we can see both Renee and Judy in the performance.
And finally like all smart actors she came prepared with an idea about the character. Zellweger hones in on playing up a core of sadnesses that the script relies on. In every scene while being Renee and nodding to Garland, she’s playing a woman full of heartache. We can’t help but feel for both Renee and Judy. The two stars’ recognizable traits merge within this melancholy woman we are watching while she tries to rise up time and time again. She wrings cleansing tears and poignant feelings from us. And for that she’ll be a worthy Oscar winner.