Back to Black

The extraordinary story of Amy Winehouse’s early rise to fame from her early days in Camden through the making of her groundbreaking album, Back to Black that catapulted Winehouse to global fame. Told through Amy’s eyes and inspired by her deeply personal lyrics, the film explores and embraces the many layers of the iconic artist and the tumultuous love story at the center of one of the most legendary albums of all time.

  • Released:
  • Runtime: 122 minutes
  • Genre: Drama, Music
  • Stars: Marisa Abela, Lesley Manville, Eddie Marsan, Jack O'Connell, Juliet Cowan, Bronson Webb, Ansu Kabia, Harley Bird, Michael S. Siegel, Matilda Thorpe, Jeff Tunke, Ryan O'Doherty, Izaak Cainer, Tracey Lushington, Sam Buchanan
  • Director: Sam Taylor-Johnson
 Comments
  • cbshncxj - 30 June 2024
    Back To Black is fine... Marisa Abela is tremendous.
    I enjoyed this movie, it won't be one I watch again and again, nor will it trouble anyone's Top 10 list, but the film is well made and enjoyable.

    Marisa Abela, on the other hand, gives a tremendous performance - made all the better by the hours she took to learn to imitate Amy's distinctive vocals. I'll leave the arguments of how much she did or did not capture Amy in her performance up to people who know better but, for me, she definitely felt like I was watching Amy.

    Jack O'Connell is good, as is Eddie Marsan but it feels like they play sanitised versions of the actual person they are playing.
  • Mr-Topshotta - 12 June 2024
    "BACK TO BLACK" REVIEW
    Directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson. A runtime of two hours and two minutes. With an R rating. Based on the biography of Amy Winehouse.

    "Amy Winehouse," played by Marisa Abela, was a talented world-renowned English singer in just a short time and at a young age. "Amy" faced many adversities in her short life such as alcoholism and drug use to name a couple. "Amy Winehouse" was a true artist, making music that emulated her life.

    You watch this biography seeing "Amy's" connection with her grandma, "Cynthia," played by Lesley Manville, and her dad, "Mitch," played by Eddie Marsan. Showing how music ran throughout "Amy's" bloodline.

    "Mitch" and "Cynthia" helped mold her music career and life in a way. She has always been a rebel and toed the line between good and evil.

    The "Amy Winehouse" story is a complicated one in a way. "Blake," played by Jack O'Connell, her lover, further complicated it while seemingly painting a clear picture once he was added to the equation of her life. Watch this heartbreaking story of another supremely talented artist, taken way too soon.

    "Back to Black" was a good film. But when it pertains to telling the story of "Amy Winehouse," I feel like chunks of the story are missing. Regardless, I think Marisa Abela did a phenomenal job of portraying her.

    Amy Winehouse seemed destined for despair from the start. Before adding more chaos to her life, meaning "Blake". "Amy" already had vices she was dealing with. It's also sad because her dad seemed to be heavily involved in her life but loosened up the grip when he needed to tighten it at all the wrong times. When he did seem to show more love and interest, the damage had already been done.

    I will say as a dad, it's hard. You know what the world brings, and you try your best to prepare your child for that. Especially when you have a little girl, no matter how old they get.

    You can't see it all, and you can't be there for it all, even though you want to be. You just have to let your child know confining in you is a safe place and do what needs to be done no matter what, especially if it's for their success.

    Screw the music; screw the fame. It all can go. None of that means anything if I can't be on Earth with the ones you love the most. That's how I feel about my daughter. She's also in the entertainment field. These stories always make me nervous and make me have even more of a watchful eye.

    There was a pivotal spot in the film where her husband "Blake" talked about the media, and fans blamed him for all of "Amy's" missteps. He told her she was like this before him. "Blake" wasn't wrong. Like I said before, this is a tale that, from the beginning, seemed like no matter what, it would end in destruction.

    "Blake" wasn't the only problem. He was also an addict. I can't give him all the blame they were toxic together. But all the people in her life, including the music label, should have reached out and helped her more than they did. If they ever did. It's a sad tale and a good film that feels like it's missing pieces. I give this film four mor fires 🔥🔥🔥🔥.

    #CosmoandtheMovieWithin #CosmoMovieBlog #CosmoLanier #BacktoBlack.