Back to Black movie review

MOVIE TITLE: Back to Black

This biopic of Amy Winehouse is in playing in select theaters, as well as on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, and Apple TV.

RATING: R

LENGTH: 2 hours 2 minutes

MOVIE REVIEW MOM GRADE: B-

SPONSOR of Today’s movie review:

Amy Winehouse “Back to Black” Grammy-winning album: https://amzn.to/3KLsr1k

IN A NUTSHELL:

The story is based on true events in the life of Amy Winehouse during her adolescence into adulthood. Featured is the creation of what some would call one of the best-selling albums of our time.

The film was directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson. Writing credits go to Matt Greenhalgh.

THINGS I LIKED:

I like a lot of Amy Winehouse’s music, but I didn’t know anything about her or how she got her start. Marisa Abela does a great job portraying the talented singer, but she truly sparkles as herself. She did most of the singing after extensive training to sound like the real Amy Winehouse. The movie does a good job illustrating her rebellious nature and vulnerability.
I love Leslie Manville in anything she does. She’s such a delight.
All of the cast members did an excellent job and include Eddie Marsan, Jack O’Connell,
We get to hear some great music.
It’s so sad that Amy died at the young age of 27. Just imagine the songs she could have written if she had lived longer.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

American audiences may have a hard time understanding everything that’s said because of the thick British accents.
The story is super choppy, skipping a lot of interesting details, which also make the timeline confusing.
If you’re hoping to learn about Amy’s life, you won’t really learn much other than she was obsessed with Blake, jazz music, and alcohol.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

Kids will be bored unless they’re huge Amy Winehouse fans.
Profanity, including F-bombs
Alcohol, cigarettes, drugs
We see a lot of skin in revealing outfits. Some nudity.
An unmarried couple “goes at it” (clothed).
We see a shirtless man and later, we see full nudity of his backside.
We watch Amy get several tattoos.
A woman goes to rehab.

THEMES:

Self-destructive behaviors
Mourning and grief
Toxic relationships

FUNNY LINES:

“I ain’t no f-n Spice Girl.” – Amy Winehouse
“I like your tattoo.” – Blake “I like yours.” – Amy “Get her a drink, quick. She likes my tattoo.” – Blake

INTERESTING LINES:

“I thought you were rock-n-roll.” – Blake “No. Jazz.” – Amy
“Music is my rehab, Dad. It always has been.” – Amy
“I don’t do anything I don’t want to do.” – Amy
“I want people to hear my voice and just forget their troubles for five minutes.” – Amy
“I don’t think I was put on this earth just to sing. I want to be your wife. I want to be a mum.” – Amy
“I don’t bang out ten hits by lunch. I need to live my songs, so that’s what I’m going to go and do.” – Amy
“I don’t write songs to be famous. I write songs because I’ve got to make something good out of something bad.” – Amy
“I write songs because I don’t know what I’d do if I didn’t.” – Amy
“I want to be remembered for just being me.” – Amy