"Marisa Abela's Intensely Physical Performance Shines in 'Back to Black' Amy Winehouse Biopic"

"Back to Black," a biopic about Amy Winehouse, features a flawed yet affecting portrayal of the late singer, with Marisa Abela delivering an intensely physical performance. Directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson and written by Matt Greenhalgh, the film captures Winehouse's fragility and self-destructiveness, but falls short in exploring her complexities. While Abela's acting shines, her musical renditions of Winehouse's songs feel auto-tuned and rushed. The portrayal of Winehouse's relationships with her family and husband, as well as the influence of her Jewish upbringing, lacks depth. Despite its flaws, the film aims for the sweet spot between hagiography and desecration, offering a compelling but incomplete portrait of the iconic musician.