Back to Black (film)
Directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson and written by Matt Greenhalgh, the film also stars Jack O'Connell, Eddie Marsan and Lesley Manville.After enjoying critical and commercial success, her record label suggests making some changes to her stage act before releasing Frank in the United States, which Amy strongly disagrees with.A postscript reveals that Amy was found dead at the age of 27 on 23 July 2011 and her untimely death was caused by alcohol poisoning after a long period of sobriety.After the death of Winehouse in 2011, filmmakers attempted to create a feature biopic with various projects, including one in 2015 with Noomi Rapace attached to star, but none moved forward.[18] In March 2024, a compilation soundtrack of Winehouse's original recordings was announced along with tracks from her inspirations such as Dinah Washington, Minnie Riperton and the Shangri-Las as their voices are featured in the film.[24] In the United States and Canada, Back to Black was released alongside IF and The Strangers: Chapter 1, and was projected to gross $4–6 million from 2,008 theaters in its opening weekend.The website's consensus reads: "Back to Black's sympathetic approach to its subject's story is an overdue antidote to the tabloid treatment she often received in life, even if the end results are disappointingly pedestrian.[22] Variety's Owen Gleiberman found that "Sam Taylor-Johnson's jazz-meets-rock-star drama exerts an authentic fascination, even as its dysfunctional-addict love story keeps us at a distance".[28] Nick Levine of NME also rated Back to Black four out of five, stating "This film was always going to face accusations of being exploitative – given the way Winehouse was scrutinised when she was alive – but the naysayers needn't have worried."[30] Hamish Macbain of the Evening Standard was critical of the film, writing, "The final scene, in particular, with its completely and utterly baseless, sensationalist implications, made me physically gasp in horror".