#REVIEW: “BACK TO BLACK”

By Mr. Will Wong

Sam Taylor-Johnson‘s Amy Winehouse Biopic BACK TO BLACK was made for the fans, humanizing one of the greatest Artists of her generation and our time.

We meet Winehouse (Marisa Abela) in her teens, navigating boys, her divorced parents and also developing her songcraft. She quickly signs to the same management company as the likes of the Spice Girls, garnering critical acclaim, but this decidedly isn’t enough for her to break into the U.S.  She needs hits and a focus on her as a performer, not just a Singer-Songwriter with a guitar.  She meets who would become the love of her life, Blake Fielder-Civil (Jack O’Connell) in a pub one day. He knows well who she is, and charms his way under her skin. One problem though, he’s already in a relationship. This doesn’t stop Winehouse from pursuing the man of her dreams and so begins a tumultuous love affair filled with alcohol, domestic violence and drugs.  On that same note, this would inspire one of the greatest albums of all time, BLACK TO BLACK.

Taylor-Johnson takes a close look at Winehouse as a young woman whose being and essence are fueled by love. She latches-on to love and also her vices, which would in turn, gift the world with timeless music, but also destroy her.  We are given a clear narrative that though Winehouse loved Fielder-Civil deeply, he was bad for her and didn’t necessarily love her back the same way and with the same intensity.

Though as an ardent fan of Winehouse’s, it would have been preferred to get a more holistic portait of the icon as the musical genius that she was, including glimpses into her artistic process, the Film is successful at transporting us inside Winehouse‘s world and her core essence.  It also portrays beautifully the relationship and impact of Winehouse‘s relationship with her grandmother Cynthia (Lesley Manville), which would shape her style and outlook on life, the elder being the voice and inspiration she needed to propel her to chase her dreams.

The Film is carried entirely on the strength of its two leads.  Firstly, O’Connell dazzles as the man who captured the heart of the Artist who captured ours. Through her eyes, we see why her heart was so set on him. Though Abela takes a moment to find Winehouse, particularly in her teen years, she is undeniable as soon as the beehive and eye makeup come out. Her commitment to mastering Winehouse‘s nuances and mannerisms, especially in her singing and performing are astonishing and admittedly in certain shots and from certain angles, we thought we were looking at the real Winehouse. Kudos to the Film’s hair, makeup and set design teams who truly helped transport us to a time when Winehouse was a daily fixture on tabloids and blogs.

Though BACK TO BLACK isn’t the complete picture that Winehouse fans might’ve deserved, it is a loving tribute to a star whose legacy still lives on to this day. Whether it be in Artists who took inspiration from Winehouse or her music alone, she continues to make an impact to this day.  Universal Pictures Canada and Focus Features release BACK TO BLACK in theatres Friday, May 17, 2024.