Fans of artist Amy Winehouse will appreciate the biopic “Back to Black,” an intimate portrayal of a singer / songwriter who was on the top of the world before her rising stardom was cut short by tragedy. Bringing her story to the screen is long overdue, and director Sam Taylor-Johnson does her best to deliver. Unfortunately, this film feels more like a melodramatic depiction of Amy’s complicated and toxic relationship with Blake Fielder-Civil than an insightful exploration of her life and career. It teeters on the edge of tabloid-esque rather than a deep dive into Amy’s immeasurable talent. I left this movie with very little new information about her, which really is a shame.
The story starts in Amy’s adolescent years, rumbling through her dream to become a famous singer and her relationship with her pops. Taylor-Johnson goes on to chronicle the years between the success of her 2003 breakthrough album “Frank” to the blowup of her bestselling “Back to Black” album in 2006.
Taylor-Johnson assumes the audience is more familiar with Winehouse and possesses more than a simple, general knowledge of her catalog and life. There are many instances where viewers have to fill in the blanks themselves and if you don’t know much about Amy, this could prove quite frustrating.
When it comes to Winehouse’s music, the film feels like a series of bullet points. Yes, her most famous tracks feature prominently on the soundtrack, but the movie rapidly rushes through its storytelling and abruptly switches between Amy’s music career and her destructive relationship with Blake. It’s disjointed and uneven, which makes for a less than cohesive story.
The portrayal of Amy and Blake’s relationship, while central to the story, is heavy-handed. Their textbook toxic co-dependence is depicted through scenes of escalating arguments, drug abuse, and mutual manipulation. Taylor-Johnson misses the mark by not providing enough context or depth to understand the psychological underpinnings of their bond, instead choosing to veer into into a sensationalism that detracts from the authenticity and empathy that Amy’s story deserves. It’s both sad and satisfying to watch, but it also feels a bit gross.
One of the film’s saving graces is the incredible, commanding performance by Marisa Abela. She not only sings with a powerful voice, but also is eerily a dead ringer for Amy. Abela effortlessly embodies Amy’s distinctive style and soulful voice, bringing an authenticity like no other. Some of the singer’s most famous performances are recreated with such meticulous detail that I thought I was watching actual archival footage.
Offering a glimpse into the life of an extraordinary artist, fans are going to find enough to enjoy in “Back to Black” to make it worth their while. Despite some erratic pacing and cliched dialogue, the film captures the talent and vulnerability that made Amy Winehouse a legend in the music world. It’s still a shame that Taylor-Johnson didn’t dive a bit deeper.
By: Louisa Moore
Screen Zealots 