MovieChat Forums > Judy (2019) Discussion > Should have had Zellweger lip sync to Ju...

Should have had Zellweger lip sync to Judy's vocals

posted 5 years ago by luvthepros (802)
3 replies | jump to latest

I enjoyed "Judy" and thought Renee did a good job with embodying Judy Garland at that time of her life. The pouting pursing of the lips and squinting of the eyes was all Renee, not Garland though. Watch Renee's performance in "Chicago" and her Roxie does both mannerisms. I do not believe Judy Garland ever did the pouty lips thing or squinting of her eyes.

Having said all that......I went to YouTube and found the 2001 TV mini series "Life With Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows". I had seen this when it first aired on ABC and enjoyed it even more after viewing it a few days ago. YouTube has it uploaded in three parts.

Comparing the two movies, the 2019 "Judy" made the biggest mistake by not using Garland's vocals. That was a HUGE miss, it is more jarring after watching those two amazing actresses lip sync to Judy's unmistakable iconic voice in the 2001 TV mini series.

If you have not seen the 2001 mini series yet, do yourself a favor and treat yourself to this amazing accurate story telling and even more amazing acting by the two women who play Judy.

I must agree with many of the posters who have commented on the mini series that Judy Davis took over the role of adult Judy too soon. Production should have still used Tammy Blanchard as the young Judy while filming "The Trolley Song" for "Meet Me in St. Louis". That is the only miss in the mini series. Otherwise, it is stellar.

[–] ProductionNow (1072) 5 years ago

Not using Garland's own voice seems to defeat the general public growing a new awareness and appreciation of Garland's voice, as expressed by some posters (maybe there is press elsewhere on why they used Zellweger's voice)

I wasn't particularly a fan of hers but also noticed the squinting and lip-pursing which Garland did not do, just by watching the trailer. (however, did Sissy Spacek receive critique when she did her own singing and looked nothing like "the Coal Miner's Daughter"?)

[–] luvthepros (802) 5 years ago

Judy Garland was an icon with an iconic voice. I have read so many of the comments on YouTube about her amazing talent and realize Garland has many many fans who were born after she left this world. Judy's voice is unique and absolutely no one comes close to the richness of her vocals, the bravado which seems to ooze effortlessly from her being and the awe inspiring emotion she easily conveyed. As someone described how Judy vocalized......"she knows how to breath while she is singing"....that really explained the phenomenon that was Judy Garland. She was an exceptional talent, never to have an equal.

Renee should not have sung for Judy in this film. I think the producers thought they could get away with Renee's vocals because this film takes place in the latter part of Judy's life. Wrong!!!! Judy's voice was still exceptional as she aged.

[–] [email protected] (1732) 5 years ago

What you all don't seem to understand is that, by 1968-9 (when "Judy" takes place), Garland's voice was pretty much
shot (although her tremendous phrasing and artistry remained). The problem for the producers was that there were
no STEREO recordings of Garland in years. All of her "Talk of the Town" recordings were recorded by amateur
tape recorders. There is no way THIS would've been believable sound in a 2019 film, and switching to one of these
technically poor tapes would've even been more jarring.

And let's be honest. Zellweger is after an Oscar, and her warbling these songs herself (in character) will give her
a greater chance.

The Spacek/Lynn comparison is absurd. As great an artist as Lynn is, she was no Judy Garland. And Spacek, whose
voice far more resembles Lynn's, had a much less daunting job in capturing the vocals.