'Amy' Review

Hey guys and girls,

I hope your 2016 has been shaping up well so far! I can't believe we're a month and a bit in already, it definitely seems the older you get the faster the time goes!

Anyway, since studying the documentary module this year, I've watched a hell of a lot for inspiration, as well as just consciously realising I watch a lot more documentary than I had originally assumed. I'm absolutely loving it and decided to give one that I had on my top list of films to watch, since its trailer back in 2015, 'Amy'.





'Amy' is the documentary about the life and career of the late great Amy Winehouse. Directed by Asif Kapadia, (whose actually part of my university's notable alumni). I was quite a fan of Amy's when she was in her prime and had been very interested to see it, despite the mixed reviews and Winehouse's father, Mitch's reservations of the film.

Kapadia seems to have got hold of some fantastic archival footage of a very young Amy with absolute raw talent like no other. Commentaries from her manager, close friends, family and ex-husband, it solely continues to play montages of footage filmed by her manager, as well as media and private videos.

The almost un-edited style of this documentary allows us, to follow almost to her perspective of her decline in health and, increase in drug and alcohol and how the world pushed her and her talent to the edge until her gut-wrenching death scene at the end. You WILL need tissues.

Using her timeless voice and lyrics to haunt the story and echo the narrative on screen, you get a feel that Winehouse is writing this so clearly, for the first time, but unfortunately it's too late.

I think its important to watch this, you get a real understanding of her, not so much victimising her, but to make her appear more human compared to the "Wino" trashy media headlines that just decided to attack her back in the prime.

With understanding of the lyrics and songs better Kapadia paints a beautifully tragic portrayal of this wonderful, and underrated talent that was Amy Winehouse.