The Amy Winehouse biopic Back To Black has been slated by film critics as a ‘poor piece of filmmaking’ and a ‘Saturday-night impersonation’ of the star, DailyMail reports.
According to the report by DailyMail, the film Back To Black directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson tells the life story of the late singer, portrayed by Marisa Abela, who died in 2011 aged 27 from alcohol poisoning.
The flick had its premiere in London on Monday and the first reviews in praised both the film’s director and cast.
The Amy Winehouse biopic Back To Black has been slated by film critics as a ‘poor piece of filmmaking’ and a ‘Saturday-night impersonation’ of the star.
The Daily Mail’s Peter Hoskin also gave the movie one star and criticized filmmakers for rushing through key details of Amy’s life.
He wrote: ‘All of the usual sins of biopics are committed here – only more so. We rush so quickly from Winehouse’s becardiganed early years to her mid-noughties pomp to her alcohol-induced demise that we barely get to know her and those around her.
‘Instead: a rapid tick-box exercise. Her dad Mitch (Eddie Marsan) driving a black cab? Check. Drinks in the Dublin Castle in Camden? Check.
‘An origin story for the beehive? Ugh. Check. Even the death of Winehouse’s beloved grandmother, Cynthia played with grace and wit by Lesley Manville, in by far the film’s best performance is merely a shot or two in yet another lazy montage.’
The Independent also slammed Back To Black as ‘cringe-worthy’ and melodramatic.
Reviewer Charlotte O’Sullivan felt the film didn’t delve enough into the darker aspects of Amy’s life, writing: ‘Back to Black is a fitfully enjoyable little package that will do wonders for the careers of Abela and O’Connell. But unlike Winehouse’s oeuvre, it’s not worth taking seriously. It’s just too afraid of the dark.’
Reception wasn’t entirely negative however as The Guardian’s Peter Bradshaw said the biopic is Sam Taylor-Johnson’s ‘best work yet’ and called it a ‘warm, heartfelt’ dramatisation of Amy’s life.
On lead actress Marisa Abela, he wrote: ‘There’s a thoroughly engaging and sweet-natured performance from Marisa Abela as Amy – though arguably taking the roudger edges off.
‘The only time Abela is less than persuaisve is when she has to get on a fight on the North London streets of Camden.’
The Sun’s Dulcie Pearce also gave the film a positive assessment, but felt the first 15 minutes offered little more than a ‘rose-tinted’ version of the Winehouse family.
She wrote: ‘From girl-next-door to drug-addicted superstar, she does a sterling job of the complicated character. Many fans were concerned about her singing, but it is spot on.
‘Blake Fielder-Civil, by Jack O’Connell, is dealt with sensitively as a fellow lost soul.’
She also praised Eddie Marsan’s performance as Amy’s father Mitch, saying he comes across as a ‘descent dad’.
Variety’s Owen Gleiberman also gave the film a positive review, calling it ‘forthright and compelling’.
He wrote: ‘The film’s snaky on-and-off power begins with the British actor Marisa Abela, whose lead performance nails Amy Winehouse in every look, mood, utterance, and musical expression.’
The Hollywood Reporter gave an overall positive assessment, however they felt Marisa’s singing voice was ‘auto-tuned up the wazoo’.
Back To Black: The reviews
Reviewer Leslie Felpernin praised director Sam Taylor-Johnson, writing: ‘Abela and O’Connell’s fissile chemistry together is a reminder that despite the tackiness of 50 Shades Of Grey‘s soft porn, Taylor-Johnson has a knack for evoking erotic longing especially that of women looking at men.’
The positive assessment is in stark contrast to the reaction to Marisa Abela’s singing voice when the trailer was released.
Fans were left divided by a clip from the film, with some jokimg the singing scenes are so ‘offensive’ that ‘criminal charges should be brought against the film’s makers.’
In the clip, Marisa was seen singing as Amy and performing at London’s Ronnie Scott Jazz Bar – however die hard Winehouse fans were less than impressed by the performance.
Marisa recently revealed she got the part before ‘anyone even knew if she could sing or not’.
During an appearance on The Jonathan Ross Show, set to air Saturday night, Marisa, 27, made the astonishing confession when speaking about her auditioning process.
Marisa admitted she had to take hours of singing lessons to get the part perfect as she transforms into the late singer.
Speaking alongside the director of the biopic Sam Taylor-Johnson, she says: ‘I don’t think anyone even asked me in the audition process if I could sing!
‘I knew Sam and I felt the same way that whoever was going to play this part needed to be Amy from the inside out.’
She adds: ‘For me when I got the job I wanted to learn to sing as much as I could because this was her chosen medium – this is her artform, this is how she expressed herself.
‘It felt so odd to do all of this work and then come to open my mouth to sing and cut to a studio recording. I trained really hard, I trained for two hours a day for four months.’
Taking to social media in the wake of the clip’s release. flabbergasted fans found themselves apologising to Winehouse for the assumed sacrilege.
‘His behaviour is shocking. He didn’t know what went on or what she was like with us all during those years. Amy would really hate that they’re focusing on all the dark stuff that she went through.’
Amy lived at the flat until 2010, when she bought a four-storey house nearby, where she was found dead the following year, aged 27.
It was later confirmed she died of alcohol poisoning.
The biopic has been teased for several years after Amy’s estate signed a deal to make a biopic about her life and career in 2018.
However, the film has attracted significant controversy prior to its release with many accusing the project of ‘exploiting the singer’s legacy’ and ‘capitalising off her trauma’.
Fans have taken to social media to protest the movie and have said they will boycott it because they believe that people should ‘let her rest’.Reacting to the trailer, one terrified fan said: ‘That teaser has got me real scared for this Amy Winehouse biopic.’
Another wept: ‘Amy Winehouse baby I am SO sorry.’
Others were directly critical of Abela, stating she did not look or sound like Amy.
One said: ‘Wait, this is supposed to be Amy Winehouse?’
Another agreed, writing: ‘Oh lol I kept seeing that movie clip and not paying attention. I didn’t realise that was supposed to be Amy Winehouse.’
One more person screamed: ‘SHE PUT HER SOUL INTO THIS SONG. Amy Winehouse you deserved better!!!’
The Back To Black biopic has drawn outrage from pals, with musician Neon Hitch, branding the film ‘ridiculous’ and ‘tasteless’, saying: ‘I feel very strange. Can you please all let Amy rest?’
Friends voiced their fury with Amy’s father, after he allowed ghoulish scenes of her drugs overdose to be filmed at her old flat. Last February, Marisa was seen with an oxygen mask as she left the property in north London.
The flat is now owned by Mitch, who also features in the scene, as Eddie was seen filming alongside Marisa and other actors playing paramedics.
At the time, Amy’s friends were devastated that her father had given his permission for the flat in Camden to be used to recreate one of his daughter’s darkest moments, which took place in August 2008.
It followed a 36-hour marathon drug-taking session, which ended with her checking in to the £10k-a-week Causeway Retreat rehabilitation centre on Osea Island, Essex.
One told The Mail on Sunday: ‘The fact that Amy’s father has said OK to a scene where she had an overdose in the flat she lived in is disgusting. It was such a personal thing and it’s so upsetting and not needed…
‘It’s like the film is reliving all the darkest moments in her life, when there were so many more amazing moments. All we’re seeing is the depressing stuff, but that’s not who she was. Mitch should be ashamed.