Amy

My knowledge of Amy Winehouse revolves around two things; her immensely popular song “Rehab” that propelled her into stardom and her drug addiction that would inevitably cause her to come crashing back down. Beyond those two, I had a general sense of how talented she was, but that was about it. Amy provides an up close and personal look into the troubled life of Amy Winehouse and the toll it took on the singer that would lead to her untimely death at the young age of 27.

The documentary pieces together a profile of Amy from various footage, both professional and amateur. Much of Amy’s teenage years is documented by homemade videos, either shot by herself or close friends, and portray a young and carefree girl with a singing and writing talent that is beyond her years. Some of the most impressive moments are her on stage singing these extremely personal songs that she wrote herself. The lyrics flash across on the screen, doubling their impact as you read every syllable as her voice echoes through your ears. On stage is where Amy shines the brightest, and where audiences see her at her best. It’s absolutely chilling to watch at times.

It’s also saddening because off stage is where Amy completely falls apart and we see drugs and alcohol take complete control of her. Even worse are the people surrounding her who essentially use her fame and fortune for their own personal gain. One of the most disturbing moments comes when Amy’s own father persuades her against going to rehab. At one point even her manager pushes her to keep touring when he knows she isn’t able to perform. It’s all quite disturbing to watch.

Amy can be difficult to watch. There’s nothing graceful about seeing someone completely break down and having it all captured on camera and in the tabloids. There are momentary happy moments, like when she’s in the studio recording a duet with her idol Tony Bennett, but they only make the nosedives that much steeper. It’s a downward spiral that doesn’t stop until her demise.

Amy does a fantastic job at showing audiences who Amy Winehouse was as person and an artist. It’s a heartbreaking documentary that opens audience’s eyes about celebrity and fame and all the pressure that comes with it. Regardless of whether or not you’re a fan of her or her music, Amy is well worth watching.