Highlights
- Back to Black features Amy’s several songs with actress Marissa Abela’s vocals throughout the film.
- The 2024 biopic, Back to Black, made $1.2 million on its very first da.
- Back to Black debuted at number one in Ireland and the UK.
Back to Black is a biographical drama film celebrating the life of notable British singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse.
The 2024 biopic showcases Amy’s troubled relationship with Blake Fielder-Civil, which inspired her to pen and record the groundbreaking album Back to Black.
Before StudioCanal finalized the deal to make a biopic about her, several filmmakers attempted to create the biopic but failed to seal the deal.
Back to Black: Critics and Audience Clash Over the Biopic
Back to Black
A wonderful tribute to the talented artist Amy Winehouse
Genres
DocumentaryMusical Drama| Release Date | April 12, 2024 |
| Director | Sam Taylor-Johnson |
| Writer | Matt Greenhalgh |
| Casts | Marisa Abela, Jack O’Connell, Eddie Marsan |
Back to Black received a 34% rating from critics (indicated by the green splat) and an 86% audience score, showing a significant disparity between critics and viewers.
Despite the audience’s enthusiasm for the biographical drama film, critics largely disagreed and expressed disappointment, particularly with the storyline.
Emma Oxenevad, a top critic from the Chicago Reader, criticized Back to Black for being a “lazy attempt” to profit from Amy’s fame.
She compared the documentary to the exploitative tabloid coverage she faced.
Take a look at official trailer;
Amid several negative critical reviews, Steven Prokopy, a reviewer from Third Coast Review, detailed a balanced review, rating it a 2.5 out of 4.
He said that the biopic neither idealizes nor defames Amy, presenting his subtle view and avoiding extreme judgments.
Alci Rengifo from Entertainment Voice detailed his bold statement, criticizing the biopic for being “safe and shallow.” According to Alci, the film failed to capture the depth of Amy Winehouse’s true character.
If not, he conveyed her dissatisfaction, writing Amy herself would’ve disapproved of the film. He wrote,’
One gets the sense that Amy Winehouse herself would have shunned this biopic for how safe and shallow it all is. She might have even written and dedicated a much bolder, scathing song to disown it.
Back to Black: A Refreshing yet Fragmented Take on Amy Winehouse’s Troubled Life
I appreciate the creators of Back to Black for deviating from the cliche music biopic showcasing Amy’s unfiltered story, offering a different perspective on her life.
The biopic focused more on the singer’s troubled relationship with her ex-husband, Blake Fielder-Civil than solely on her musical career, which was refreshing.
Back to Black was somewhat similar to the Academy Award-winning 2015 documentary Amy; however, it didn’t match the depth of the documentary “Amy” by Asif Kapadia.
Most music biopics follow this formula: They take one of an artist’s best albums or songs, and, bam, the title of the movie is created.
Similarly, Back to Black also has opted to do so, for it chronicles the years between the success of 2003’s breakthrough Frank and the blowup of the film’s titular album.
Amy's iconic music videos from the Back to Black era showcase her distinctive retro-inspired fashion, mesmerising charisma, and profound emotional depth. Each video captures the essence of her music, delivering raw, heartfelt emotions. 💗#backtoblack pic.twitter.com/9IO0vsGhpR
— Amy Winehouse (@amywinehouse) May 29, 2024
Back to Black doesn’t include a montage of the albums, their hits, tours, concerts, and the creation process.
You see Abela playing Amy record the breakthrough song “Back to Black,” and instantly jump into another scenario of her performing at a radio station.
The absence of that crucial context results in a disorganized portrayal of Amy’s journey, with scenes seemingly disconnected from one another.
Likewise, early on in the film, Amy stated that she would not use any cracks; if not, she stated such things weren’t her thing at all.
However, we could see Amy smoking later in the film contradicting her previous statements.
Marisa Abela Shines as Amy Winehouse: A Daunting Role Met with Dazzling Authenticity
The British actress Marisa Abela’s role as Amy Winehouse in the biopic was definitely a golden opportunity any actor could ask for.
If not, it was a daunting challenge because of Amy’s unique charisma and distinctive voice, making her a difficult figure to portray.
For me, Abela literally crossed the line, but in a good way; you stop seeing her as different and see more of Amy in her.
Likewise, props to Abela for showcasing her vocal talent and sounding like Amy, although she isn’t a trained singer.
Hands down, the actress undoubtedly embodied the essence of the late singer, Amy Winehouse.
Abela’s effort in mimicking Amy’s singing is vivid; nevertheless, her caricature of Amy’s north London accent sometimes felt forced.
