When the real person’s life is messy

Does the #AmyWinehouse biopic #BackToBlack prove that it’s impossible to tell her story authentically and credibly on-screen?
Edited by Maha Albadrawi.
Like this video? Hit subscribe: bit.ly/LWLsubsc...
🔔 Please enable push notifications 🔔
Watch our most recent videos: bit.ly/LWLrecent
Follow us:
Twitter: / lwlies
Instagram: / lwlies
Facebook: / littlewhiteliesmagazine
Become a Member: steadyhq.com/e...
Subscribe:
Podcast: lwlies.com/
Magazine: lwlies.com/mag...
Watch more:
Popular Videos: bit.ly/LWLpopular
Video Essays: bit.ly/LWLessays
Interviews: bit.ly/LWLinter...
Masterclasses: bit.ly/LWLmaste...

[@jamietingey7498]

Its weird that she's not here and how much time has passed by since she departed.

[@VeeLondon1449]

The narrative of the film is dishonest, it’s cringy, a parody. “What kind of fuckery is this” - Amy Winehouse.

[@jayr3053]

“You MAAAAAde me miss the slick Rick gig!”

[@alejandralopez6305]

To find out that groomer director made this?! Tells me all I need to know

[@kitsworld]

NOT a groomer. She met her HUSBAND when he was EIGHTEEN - a LEGAL ADULT - and they got married and had FOUR children. They are STILL MARRIED, twelve years later. How the F are you calling her a "Groomer"? You DE-VALUE all the TRUE VICTIMS of groomers by saying this. You are also guilty of libel. Good luck with the libel suit!

[@alexis2819]

@@kitsworldit was an abuse of power, when they met he was staring in a film she was directing. she was 42 and he was only 18. what business does a 42 have even engaging in any type of relationship with a 18 year old? it’s disgusting.

[@kitsworld]

It was NOT an abuse of power. He was 18. At 18 you are expected to take responsibility for your own actions. You are not a minor or someone in need of protection. "Only 18" - give me a break! Infantilise much?! "What business does a 42 year old have..." What business is it of yours?! "It's disgusting" - says everything I need to know about you! Judging strangers and condemning them based on nothing more than an age-gap in their LEGAL and LONG-TERM and SUCCESSFUL marriage! What a lovely person you clearly are! There's a sixteen year age gap between me and my husband. Go ahead, call ME disgusting. I dare you! Accuse ME of being a "groomer". People like you, with your sanctimonious, judgemental, ignorant views are the reason evil people like Trump and Sunak proliferate in this world. Guess what... THAT is what is disgusting! Next time mind your own business about other people's relationships. I bet yours wouldn't stand up to close scrutiny!

[@maffieduran]

​@@kitsworldtrue victim of grooming here. That is still grooming, stop using us to silence perversion. You are either Sam's burner acc or a whiteknight

[@user-kt3qm8jy8y]

@@kitsworldyou have a oversimplified view of what qualifies as someone being groomed. Turning 18 does not make you invulnerable to being groomed. Believe or not but a 18 year old is no wiser than a 17 year old (a minor). The huge age gap and power dynamic of her being his boss, makes him very much in the position of a victim. Just because it is legal doesn’t make it okay nor morally exempt of criticism.❤

[@surfacingcom]

They tried to make me watch this movie, but I said No, No, No.

[@taylornusteling8692]

Good one. 🤣😂

[@jamietingey7498]

Pretty sure Amy would laugh about that!

[@rayasalter9650]

This person goes out of her way to be nice... the movie was two-dimensional, played like an after school special, was miscast (sorry, the actress was good but just not right for the role) and it was truly depressing to not hear her music or see her friendships. Maybe the worst, the role of the media, and all of us as consumers of it, goes unexamined. It's a shame, a good, honest biopic would have given us all something to think about and remember.

[@blackgirlrockie3471]

They dragged this woman’s name through the MUD!!! Before and after her death. Now they want to make a movie about her and capitalize off her name!!! NO Ma’am… plus the director (and the trailers) were cringe and questionable. 0:07

[@jaymz010]

9:52 Ah but Johnny Cash & Ray Charles had a hand in the production of their biopics. Infact Charles saw it before he died & Cash met with Phoenix many times

[@imsoboredhahaha]

I have to respectfully disagree about your point regarding the ethical reasons as to why people did not want to watch the film. 1. Amy would not have liked this movie if she had been given the opportunity to consent to a film. I think as Amy fans, we should not be supportive of content or products that Amy would not approve of. Based on how Amy discussed her life as a famous person and how she lived a very humble lifestyle despite having wealth from her music, we assume Amy would have disliked the idea of a drama film being made about her. 2. The film does not stick to respectfully showing Amy. For instance, the final scene that leads into Amy’s death is inaccurate. It suggests that Amy drank herself to death solely because of Blake having a baby with another woman whilst Amy would have likely been infertile.

[@onyx081]

You didn't personally know Amy to speak about what she would like or dislike. I don't know why you're speaking on her behalf as if you two were besties. This parasocial relationship y'all form with celebrities is both weird and creepy.

[@clown-cult96]

@@onyx081not you calling someone else weird and creepy for that person pointing out that a movie based on a real celebrity portrayed their tragic death in a dehumanising, reductive manner. Not the serve you thought it was.

[@Simonjose7258]

This movie, if anything, is made for kids who missed the whole thing and don't have a sentimental connection to her music. We were there. We lived it. She used to upload a ton of paparazzi footage to KZbin, and I used to watch obsessively. She's just so fascinating to watch.

[@clown-cult96]

Describing people who think sensationalised biopics about the recently dead as “lacking media literacy” was certainly a choice.

[@katiethompson8922]

Really great video essay!

[@Carlos-ln8fd]

Great essay

[@Sweetthang9]

They could have made the perfect movie, but nobody wanted it....least of all Amy fans. Amy's music was never mainstream enough for anyone but a relatively small generation (I was 22 when she came to the US with Back to Black), and she was so un-prolific that there's not enough there to frame any sort of complex narrative. Amy Winehouse was globally electric for like 2 years. And the rest of her life was just too tragic. There's nothing there to make a satisfying story. It doesn't make us love her more, it makes us more sad for her.

[@PhotoshoppingTigers]

Brilliant video 🔥

[@carlamarshall5829]

I am stabled on the movie by accident. I only knew her for that rehab song and nothing more. The movie for me introduced me to an awesome singer with good music. I can appreciate that. I really like the song Know You Now, I'm adding it to my playlist 😊

[@AozoraUltra2006]

the trailer couldn't even convince me this is amy. she doesn't look like her, she doesn't sound like her

[@fredrm6023]

its a downfall no matter how you want to craft the film. She died young because of an overdose and her hit song was about Rehab. Cmon there is no happy ending for any Amy Winehouse no matter how you slice it.

[@felipevaneden]

she's gorge but she isnt giving amy

[@anthonysheppard9247]

NEVER HEARD OF THIS MOVIE

[@DocsChannel]

The film seemed pulled in different directions

[@dlwseattle]

That Amy documentary was very well done. I would never bother with that recent biopic - it looks terrible

[@I_like_YT_lots]

I actually watch Industry, but after just 5 minutes of this film, I had to stop watching it. I don't know why, but after 5 minutes in watching this film, I had to turn it off.

[@bungle3912]

That movie was horrible.

[@fedearequil]

I saw it. I am a fanatic of Amy. I loved it. It was a tragic love story inspired heavily on excerpts of Amy's life. Not a biopic. The music is amazing. The acting is excellent. The protagonist ATE the role. And the father did as well. The character of the Grandmother brings emotion. It is a very good film.

[@mc1993]

It was doomed to failure because not many people care about Amy Winehouse. Same reason The Bikeriders failed because not many people care about biker gangs.

[@tbam73]

Stating no one cares about her is grossly false.

[@mc1993]

@@tbam73 And reading is fundamental. Where did I write "no one?" It made $6 million domestically. Not many cared to see it. People went to se every other singer biopic. Domestic: Freddie $217m, Elvis $150M, Elton $96M, Aretha $24M, James Brown $30M. Even Enimen made $116M in 2002 dollars. Like I said, not many people care about Amy Winehouse.

[@ms.shineray]

​​@@mc1993 i care deeply about her, but that movie is exploration of her, we her fans saw her exploited in real life we don't need to see more of the same, that is why we didn't go to see it, and when i say we is because i am part of a global fan group on Facebook

[@mc1993]

@@ms.shineray Sure. Ok. So we agree, no movie about her should have been made.