Back to Black is a biographical drama directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson about Amy Winehouse, her life and career. Marisa Abela plays Winehouse, and thoroughly disappears into the role; she is the most compelling aspect of the film.

 

Back to Black begins in the period of Winehouse’s life prior to the release of her debut album Frank and follows her through her meteoric rise to fame and her troubles with its dark side, substance abuse and her tumultuous relationship with on-again off-again partner Blake Fielder-Civil (Jack O’Connell).

 

Back to Black doesn’t shy away from exploring the consequences for Winehouse of her substance abuse, though her struggles with bulimia are only indirectly addressed in the film. These aspects of the film are confronting and saddening, made all the more so thanks to Marisa Abela and Jack O’Connell’s performances.

Abela is transformed into Amy Winehouse: stage presence, style and personality. The film spends time on performances which was a wise move as it lets shine the two greatest assets the film has to offer: Abela and Amy Winehouse’s music itself, both of which are fully utilised.

​

However, Back to Black does feel like it misses its mark to an extent, despite boasting Abela’s absorbing performance. The impact of the British tabloids on Winehouse is only considered indirectly, the timeline of her life around and after her landmark album Back to Black is somewhat muddled and her final years are summed up in a single frame at the film’s close.

 

Back to Black boasts an incredible performance from Marisa Abela, who thoroughly captures Amy Winehouse’s personality, style and her stage presence. The film suffers a few missteps, though this is more than made up for by such a powerful central performance and Winehouse’s iconic music.