Back to Black: A Biopic Worth Singing About

The eternal conundrum of the music biopic: how to balance the need to tell a compelling story with the desire to do justice to the music that made the subject famous in the first place. It’s a delicate tightrope to walk, and one that many films have failed to navigate successfully. But with Back to Black, the latest biopic about the life of Amy Winehouse, it seems that the filmmakers have finally cracked the code.

Amy Winehouse, the soulful singer-songwriter

Directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson and written by Matt Greenhalgh, Back to Black is a carefully calibrated portrait of Winehouse, one that manages to capture the essence of her music while also telling a compelling story about her life. Much of the credit for this success must go to Marisa Abela, who gives a barnstorming performance as Winehouse. Abela’s portrayal of Winehouse is fragile, intelligent, and self-destructive, capturing the singer’s distinctive blend of vulnerability and swagger.

Musically, Abela is less persuasive, but this is largely due to the fact that she’s not a singer by trade. Despite hours of music lessons, Abela’s singing still sounds auto-tuned, lacking the dynamic control that made Winehouse’s music so compelling. However, this is a minor quibble in an otherwise excellent performance.

Marisa Abela shines as Amy Winehouse

One of the standout scenes in the film is a recreation of Winehouse’s Grammy performance, where she sang “Rehab” via satellite from London. Abela gets every hip swing and jaw quaver right, wearing an exact copy of the Dolce & Gabbana dress Winehouse wore that night. It’s a moment that will leave fans of Winehouse’s music beaming with joy.

Amy Winehouse’s iconic Grammy performance

The film also explores Winehouse’s relationships, particularly her tumultuous romance with Blake Fielder-Civil. Jack O’Connell brings a charismatic energy to the role, and his chemistry with Abela is undeniable. The film portrays their relationship as a toxic co-dependency, but also a deep and abiding love.

Blake Fielder-Civil and Amy Winehouse’s complicated relationship

If the film has a flaw, it’s that it doesn’t quite get to the heart of what made Winehouse tick. We see her rise to fame, her relationships, and her struggles with addiction, but we never quite get to the root of her talent, her grit, and her rage. Perhaps that’s the nature of biopics, but it’s a shame, because Winehouse’s story is one that deserves to be told in all its complexity.

Amy Winehouse’s family, including her father Mitch and grandmother Cynthia

Despite this, Back to Black is a biopic worth singing about. It’s a film that will leave you humming the tunes and appreciating the talent of Amy Winehouse all over again.