Review of Amy (2015) by Gregory G — 04 Jun 2016
An extraordinarily intimate, despairing documentary on the tragic life of British jazz singer turned pop star Amy Winehouse, who died, at 27, from alcohol poisoning. Director Asif Kapadia tracks her meteoric music career then descent into addiction without editorializing.
He incorporates archival footage of Winehouse, including interviews with family, friends, and acquaintances, but omits the conventional use of talking heads. Kapadia sidesteps the trappings of exploitation that could've resulted in a conventional rise-and-fall music biopic.
The inclusion of performances by Winehouse, with accompanying lyrics superimposed on the screen, let's us see the progression of the artist that a fictional recreation couldn't capture. Kapadia doesn't spare us the harshness of Winehouse's deterioration, but he never revels in it either, though I wish more focus had been placed on her musical achievements.
More than just a biography of a singer's life, this is also a scathing indictment of fame and its enablers, and of our callous disregard for addiction and mental illness. But the lasting impression left by this film is one of deep felt empathy towards Amy Winehouse.
Won Oscar for Best Documentary Feature.
This review of Amy (2015) was written by Gregory G on 04 Jun 2016.
Amy has generally received very positive reviews.
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