The film adaptation of Amy Winehouse’s story is unsettling.While the film about her life seemed compelling, it spiraled downhill just like her life and left me with mixed feelings. Back to Black is written by Sam Taylor-Johnson and I had faith in her ability to direct this adaptation. Given her direction of Nowhere Boy in 2009, I felt Taylor-Johnson had the track record to make this type of movie a success. Back to Black is interesting, yet somewhat inconsistent. It is a deep and thorough look into the complicated life of Winehouse. The pacing is what causes it to not exactly hit the mark.
Marisa Abela plays Amy. She has the voice, the attitude, and the personality that sends electricity through the screen. Eddie Marsen plays Mitch, Amy’s father, who always looks out for his daughter. Jack O’Connell plays Blake, Amy’s husband, and the love of Amy’s life. Amy has people in her life who provide much support. Her life, however, is condemned because it is fueled by pressure, attention, and alcohol and drug abuse. Amy’s mentality fluctuates with the many hurdles of her instability.
The beginning of Back to Black features the happy moments of Amy’s life. This approach takes away the realistic point of view that the film could have had and jumps quickly to fame. The background of the Winehouse family is explored with in-depth writing, but Amy’s drug use is the hidden secret in Back to Black.
The pacing is what caused my mind to wander during the film.There was so much of the film focused on Amy’s musical fameand accomplishments, and then the spiral down to personal tragedies. The story picks itself up when her relapse into drug abuse begins to hover over her head. When that happens, Back to Black feels like an overwhelming array of overly done dramatics which does not work in the film’s favor.
The style of filmmaking does not do the story justice and is not as captivating as it could be. Amy says, “Music is my rehab.” Those words prove she was in denial about her addictions. Why make her addictions the primary focus? The story could have had more layers by also focusing on art and empathy. Amy was such a deep character and reflecting that in the film’s writing could have led to an improved result.
My level of respect for the film was boosted by how managed to capture the reality of who Amy was. While she was growing popular, she was throwing it away. The movie painted a clear picture of her journey with addiction. People love Amy for her music but find it harder to accept the conflicts she fought within herself. While her story has some happiness, the downward spiral of sadness is pervasive.
Back to Black does reveal the extreme difficulty people face when fighting to overcome addictions. It also shows how fame becoming someone’s new normal can have negative consequences. The themes of addiction and fame are authentic in Back to Black, but I still give the film just two out of four stars.
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