Back to Black: Why the controversial Amy Winehouse biopic is angering fans

 

Exactly a decade after the death of acclaimed singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse, a biopic promising her "intense journey to fame" is already set for release. A new trailer for Back to Black, released yesterday by StudioCanal and Monumental Pictures, features the industry's breakout star Marisa Abela sporting the singer's instantly recognizable 1960s-inspired beehive hairstyle, heavy, winged eyeliner and swirling shoulder tattoo. Shown wearing. But reactions from Winehouse fans were not positive: critics immediately condemned Winehouse's lack of autonomy over her representation in the film, accused the film's producers of profiting from the singer's turbulent later years, and claimed that The biopic is coming very soon. 

There were already complaints of dissatisfaction when pictures emerged of Abella on set in London last year, apparently in character with Winehouse in distress – beehives unkempt and make-up bad. The wave of reaction was swift, with one social media user describing the images as "revolting". Even before a clip of Back to Black became public, Winehouse's followers were already on high alert over the possibility that a film about her life might sensationalize its more tragic elements and exploit her story. Can.

It's understandable that fans would want to protect the singer and her legacy. During her life, Winehouse's image, drug and alcohol consumption, and relationships were regularly criticized by the press – despite her many accolades as an artist. In 2009, Winehouse obtained an injunction against the paparazzi agency, Big Pictures, under the Harassment Protection Act 1997. She was also the first woman to win five Grammy Awards, and remains a hugely influential artist, inspiring the likes of pop megastars. Adele, Lady Gaga and Billie Eilish. Just 13 years after her death, the prospect of seeing some of Winehouse's more tragic moments again on screen – including performances where she was drunk or booed off stage – is an unpalatable prospect for some. Is.

Representations of real life can walk a fine line between authenticity and silly parody, with the final season of The Crown being a prime example. The show was criticized for "giving viewers what no one needed: Diana and Dodi, Charles and Camilla, Will and Kate; all the tabloids' greatest hits."

The worry is that Back to Black will continue to reinforce this cycle of abuse and exploitation perpetrated by the media. As Roisin O'Connor writes in The Independent, "Given the vulture-like efficiency with which her life was picked apart, it is almost impossible to think of an honest reason for making a film about Winehouse – much less No less than one who is not motivated by greed."

There's also the question of whether a biopic celebrating Winehouse's legacy is really needed when she died so young. Critics have pointed out that films honoring Winehouse's life and career already exist, notably Asif Kapadia's 2015 documentary Amy. The film won several awards, including an Oscar, BAFTA, and an MTV Movie Award for Best Documentary. The critically acclaimed BBC documentary Reclaiming Amy followed in 2021. Is another Winehouse film justified?

Given that Sam Taylor-Johnson will be taking over as director, there are hopes that Back to Black could turn out to be a bona fide picture

Then there's the issue of embodying Winehouse's iconic presence and character on screen – certainly a near-impossible feat. Abella's resemblance to Winehouse has been questioned, with Winehouse's father Mitch feeling the need to defend the casting decision: "Marisa is a great choice for the role, even though she doesn't look exactly like Amy." Furthermore, the decision to cast a "newcomer" in such a big role seems puzzling.

Given that Sam Taylor-Johnson will be taking over as director, there are hopes that Back to Black could turn out to be a bona fide picture. The filmmaker proved his biopic credentials with Nowhere Boy, about John Lennon, which received generally good reviews and four BAFTA nominations. According to a report by Rolling Stone, Taylor-Johnson was also reportedly friends with Winehouse. "My relationship with Amy began when I left college and was wandering around the creatively diverse Camden area of London," Taylor-Johnson said in a statement last year. "I first saw her perform in a talent show at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in Soho, and it was immediately clear that she wasn't just 'talent'... she was brilliant."

Winehouse's father Mitch is also involved in the film, raising concerns that he may attempt to rewrite his daughter's story in some way. The founder of the Amy Winehouse Foundation was a vocal opponent of Kapadia's documentary for its less-than-flattering portrayal. She has also been criticized for her involvement in the Amy Winehouse Hologram Tour – which has now been canceled after "unique challenges and sensitivities" – and the Winehouse Broadway musical which is currently in the works.

With Sofia Coppola's Priscilla Presley biopic now in theaters, and the lives of popstars like Britney Spears being re-examined, it's clear that stories about female celebrities experiencing abuse or hardship are popular — but Amy What does this mean for Winehouse? "More recently, it was beginning to feel as if [Winehouse] was finally being remembered not as an entirely tragic figure but as a generational talent who released two iconic records – and no A man who was not entirely self-destructive, but the victim of systematic abuse and mental illness," writes Shad D'Souza in The Guardian. "Back to Black seeks not to honor that legacy, but to revive that outrageous noise. Threatens the very thing that obscured it in the first place."