Back to Black review: "A competent but occasionally clunky Amy Winehouse biopic"

GamesRadar+ Verdict GamesRadar+ Verdict Why you can trust GamesRadar+Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about our reviews policy. Why you can trust GamesRadar+Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about our reviews policy. “I want to be remembered for being a singer,” intones Amy Winehouse (Industry’s Marisa Abela) early on in director Sam Taylor-Johnson’s biopic of the iconic London singer. It’s a noble sentiment, especially given Winehouse’s tabloid-created infamy: her struggles with drink and drugs were regularly splashed across the front pages in the lead up to her untimely death aged 27 in 2011. Tapping into Winehouse’s volatile, no-nonsense personality, the film only truly hits its stride when she meets Blake Fielder-Civil (a cocksure Jack O’Connell), the man who becomes her husband and joins her in a haze of substance abuse as her fame hits levels of near-hysteria. Sadly, Winehouse’s switch from being anti-drugs to a regular user isn’t captured with particular finesse; Taylor-Johnson largely holds back on conveying the grimier aspects of the singer’s decline. As such, the film doesn’t land the same emotional impact as Asif Kapadia’s Oscar-winning documentary Amy. Instead, it works best as a love story between the singer and Fielder-Civil – their tumultuous time together inspiring songs like Back to Black itself. Knitting it all together is a terrific turn from Abela, who not only looks the part (tattoos, beehive hairdo, etc.) but gives a remarkable vocal performance, sounding uncannily like the singer on record. Ultimately, Back to Black is a sobering – if rather strait-laced – look at the perils of fame, not least when showing rabid paparazzi stalking the singer’s every move. While it doesn’t exactly get under its subject’s ink-covered skin, the caption over the end credits explaining that Winehouse died of alcohol poisoning after a long period of sobriety feels potent. It’s a stark reminder of the tragedy of a huge talent being cut off in her prime. Back to Black is in UK cinemas from April 12 and in US theaters from May 17. More info More More about back to blackJack O’Connell is open to playing Bond: “It’s not something I’m going to turn my nose up at"First teaser for Amy Winehouse biopic Back to Black leaves fans of the late singer conflictedLatestI didn’t know how badly I wanted to grill and gobble up monsters until this upcoming survival roguelike made it look so tastySee more latest► More about back to blackJack O’Connell is open to playing Bond: “It’s not something I’m going to turn my nose up at"First teaser for Amy Winehouse biopic Back to Black leaves fans of the late singer conflictedLatestI didn’t know how badly I wanted to grill and gobble up monsters until this upcoming survival roguelike made it look so tastySee more latest► More about back to blackJack O’Connell is open to playing Bond: “It’s not something I’m going to turn my nose up at"First teaser for Amy Winehouse biopic Back to Black leaves fans of the late singer conflicted More about back to black Jack O’Connell is open to playing Bond: “It’s not something I’m going to turn my nose up at"First teaser for Amy Winehouse biopic Back to Black leaves fans of the late singer conflicted Jack O’Connell is open to playing Bond: “It’s not something I’m going to turn my nose up at” Jack O’Connell is open to playing Bond: “It’s not something I’m going to turn my nose up at” First teaser for Amy Winehouse biopic Back to Black leaves fans of the late singer conflicted First teaser for Amy Winehouse biopic Back to Black leaves fans of the late singer conflicted LatestI didn’t know how badly I wanted to grill and gobble up monsters until this upcoming survival roguelike made it look so tastySee more latest► Latest I didn’t know how badly I wanted to grill and gobble up monsters until this upcoming survival roguelike made it look so tasty I didn’t know how badly I wanted to grill and gobble up monsters until this upcoming survival roguelike made it look so tasty I didn’t know how badly I wanted to grill and gobble up monsters 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