There is no doubt that Amy Winehouse was a pure bubble with energy and when you combine that energy with extreme talent, what do you get? A pop icon! Amy Winehouse was truly a popular icon with flaws of alcohol and drug addiction.
Back to Black is an excellent biopic of the late great jazz singer because it has some integrity and is directed in good taste. To see Marisa Abela impersonate Amy to a T is clear that she did her homework. Abela delivers Amy’s mannerisms; the cockney North London accent and most importantly the voice! Yes, she apparently is not lip-synching and those singing lessons have truly paid off as Abela sounds just like her.
Back to Black has a very well-structured linear narrative. The story is simply conveying the life and music of Amy Winehouse, through the journey of adolescence to adulthood and the creation of one of the best-selling albums of our time. Let’s just say, that after you finish the film, you’ll rummage through the old CD collection to listen to her Back to Black album. If not, what is guaranteed is to binge her music on YouTube or Spotify simply because her music is outstanding. The fact that Winehouse wrote her songs through tragic breakups and personal experiences is what makes her music so authentic and touches the soul.
Obviously to hear the music played throughout the film goes without saying. This will be the feel-good aspect of the film. The next ingredient is to present her life rise and then learn how she spiralled into the epitome of ‘black.’ Sam Taylor-Johnson has not taken any abstract concepts in her direction. She has directed a conventional film to convey Winehouse’s life in Camden Town, where she had a loving family, a tight support group and a bad-influenced boyfriend turned husband called Blake played effortlessly by Jack O’Connell. It is not implied that Blake Fielder-Civil is to blame for Amy’s spiral to become addicted to heroin and other forms of narcotics, but the audience will eventually make him the scapegoat. Nonetheless, the real Blake has stated that he feels culpability and has remorse for his influence and actions. The film is therapeutic to all those involved, including Blake as the film clearly conveys the two truly love each other but sadly that love is combined with toxicity. When Blake files for divorce whilst incarcerated, we clearly see Abela’s effort to convey heartbreak.
Back to Black has many merits. Just don’t expect Oscar nominations like Bohemian Rhapsody or a similar win akin to Rami Malek’s Freddy Mercury. Abela clearly encapsulates a perfect impression of Winehouse, but something is lacking to qualify for an Oscar nomination. Abela doesn’t get the audience into tears with her tragic circumstances, nonetheless, we are engrossed in her impersonation and excellent singing. Eddie Marsan is excellent as usual. To play her father, Mitch presents a truly loving and caring father. He clearly would do anything for his daughter, but what needed to be indicated was possibly him breaking down when he learns of his daughter’s death. Marsan would have acted that out perfectly as we know he’s good for it. Sadly, he will miss out on any supporting actor nominations as Marsan wasn’t given the opportunity to show what he’s normally capable of which is to be downright dramatic. Instead, he shows a supportive proud father figure.
Overall, the film is worth watching. Bear in mind, that the audience will not get anything truly graphic. It has the stamped approval of Amy’s family that will want to show her in a good light. You may see Amy smoke a crack pipe, but only once. You may see her drink to look intoxicated but not Nicolas Cage style. You may not show the death of Amy but meet the audience halfway that she truly was a lovely and talented person who struggled with addiction. Perhaps if the film pushed more boundaries, it would have stood out to be an intense biopic. Back to Black is a safe presentation of Amy Winehouse. Is ‘safe’ what the audience wants? Darker is best, but in respect for the family ‘safe’ is sufficient.
An excellent biopic of the late great jazz singer
Movie title: Back to Black (2024)
Movie description: The life and music of Amy Winehouse, through the journey of adolescence to adulthood and the creation of one of the best-selling albums of our time.
Date published: April 13, 2024
Country: UK
Duration: 2h 2m
Director(s): Sam Taylor-Johnson
Actor(s): Marisa Abela, Eddie Marsan, Jack O'Connell
Genre: Biography, Drama, Music
Summary
Back to Black is an excellent biopic of the late great jazz singer because it has some integrity and is directed in good taste.
Aly has a strong passion for film as he enjoys reviewing and analysing them. He has written for Hey U Guys, The Hollywood News and The People’s Movies. He is an aspiring screenwriter and has had much interest by professionals in the industry. For the bread and butter, he teaches English Language and Literature in secondary school which he truly enjoys, but has dreams to enter the film industry professionally. He loves networking as making good contacts is key to moving forward.
