Then I stumbled upon two very wonderful television performances, one by Judy Davis and the other by Anne Heche. Me and My Shadows. Before I lavish this actress with more accolades, the menacing me needs to get one thing straight. I am not bestowing praise upon the miniseries itself, which is based on the memoir by Garland's younger daughter, Lorna Luft. As with most memoirs, the writer tends to make herself look somewhat grandiose.
Unnecessary moments abound.
As an afterthought, Garland says elder daughter Liza Minnelli is lucky too and gives the teen, standing by her bed, a one-arm hug. I was not only transfixed by how much she looked like Garland, but how she intensified the strong resemblance by locking into every one of Garland's mannerisms. I understand Davis studied footage of Garland for quite a while to nail her portrayal, and her hard work paid off. She even lip-synched with such zest that the veins in her neck bulged at just the right times. Although Garland died before I was born, I truly believe, having seen Judy Davis, that I have in some way seen Judy Garland.