“Back to Black”, the biopic about Amy Winehouse’s life is set to premiere in movie theaters on May 17, 2024. Although the movie has yet to be released, it is already receiving criticism and scrutiny for the film’s portrayal of Winehouse.
Who was Amy Winehouse?
Amy Winehouse was born in London, England on September 14, 1963, to Janis and Mitch Winehouse. Known for her recognizable beehive, thick eyeliner, Monroe piercing and tattoos, Winehouse was a soul and jazz singer.
Her most notable tracks include “Back to Black”, “Rehab” and “Valerie”.
In 2008, she was nominated for six Grammy Awards and won five, including “Best New Artist” and “Best Pop Vocal Album” for her 2006 album, “Back to Black.” Additionally, Winehouse won four Grammys for her song “Rehab.”
After a long battle with drug addiction and alcoholism, Winehouse died at the age of 27 on July 23, 2011. Despite her passing, her legacy has remained, from her strong persona to her beautiful music.
About “Back to Black”
The biopic, “Back to Black”, is directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson, also known for directing “Fifty Shades of Grey” and “Nowhere Boy”, the John Lennon biopic.
In the film, Winehouse is portrayed by English actress, Marisa Abela, who is most known for being in “Barbie” and the BBC’s series “Industry.”
It’s worth noting that “Back to Black” is the second film about Amy Winehouse, “Amy” is a documentary that was released in 2015, and was directed by Asif Kapadia. The documentary went on to win an Academy Award for “Best Documentary (Feature)” in 2016.
The Criticism
When the film’s initial paparazzi photos emerged of Abela’s portrayal of Winehouse, critics, and fans were disgruntled and upset with her costuming, hairstyle, and makeup styling. Additionally, many fans feel that the film is solely exploiting her story and tarnishing her legacy.
While the film is set to be released on May 17 in the US, it has already premiered in the U.K. Rotten Tomatoes has rated “Black to Black” a 50% score.
Taylor-Johnson also faced scrutiny for announcing that she did not allow Winehouse’s family to be involved in the storyline or even make edits to the film’s plot. Additionally, loyal fans are not keen on the film’s portrayal of Blake Fielder-Civil.
Winehouse had a tumultuous relationship with Fielder-Civil, and they were even married for two years, from 2007-2009.
When it comes to a biopic about a figure in the music industry, of course, music is a large element and key component of filmmaking. To prepare for her role, Abelas endured vocal training to improve her singing ability.
Therefore, Taylor-Johnson announced that the film would not contain any vocal recordings of Winehouse. Some fans feel that by not including some of the English jazz singer’s vocals, the film will greatly lack Winehouse’s talents.
“I felt like it was time to go from her perspective, and give her agency back, and allow her to tell us her story through the music.”
Sam Taylor-Johnson
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