Amy

Name: Amy
Genre: Biography, Music, Documentary
Released: July 3, 2015
Duration: 128 min
Rating: 85
Cast: Amy Winehouse, Mark Ronson, Mitch Winehouse, Mos Def, Pete Doherty

2015

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Universal acclaim based on 41 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 178 Ratings

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8.3

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8.3	User Score Universal acclaim based on 178 Ratings

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Amy

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Movie Details & Credits

A24 | Release Date: July 3, 2015 | Not Rated

Starring: Amy Winehouse, Mark Ronson, Mitch Winehouse, Mos Def, Pete Doherty

Summary: Amy tells the story of six-time Grammy-winner Amy Winehouse – in her own words. A once-in-a-generation talent, Amy Winehouse was a musician that captured the world’s attention. A pure jazz artist in the most authentic sense – she wrote and sung from the heart using her musical gifts to analyze her own problems. The combination of her rawAmy tells the story of six-time Grammy-winner Amy Winehouse – in her own words. A once-in-a-generation talent, Amy Winehouse was a musician that captured the world’s attention. A pure jazz artist in the most authentic sense – she wrote and sung from the heart using her musical gifts to analyze her own problems. The combination of her raw honesty and supreme talent resulted in some of the most unique and adored songs of the modern era. Her huge success, however, resulted in relentless and invasive media attention which coupled with Amy’s troubled relationships and precarious lifestyle saw her life tragically begin to unravel. Amy Winehouse died from alcohol poisoning in July 2011 at the age of 27. [A24]… Expand

Director: Asif Kapadia

Genre(s): Biography, Music, Documentary

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 128 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Steven Rea

Jul 10, 2015

Asif Kapadia's extraordinary documentary, Amy, is filled with similarly soul-stirring, heartbreaking moments. Read full review

100

RogerEbert.com Susan Wloszczyna

Jul 3, 2015

This is the Amy Winehouse few of us ever got to witness, radiating cheeky self-confidence and finding joy in sharing her considerable gifts. Read full review

Andrew O'Hehir

Jul 3, 2015

Kapadia is a London-born filmmaker who approached Winehouse’s life, as he did that of Brazilian racing legend Ayrton Senna in his thrilling 2011 “Senna,” as a dramatic story with numerous twists and turns and a magnificent and tragic figure at its center. Read full review

Peter Rainer

Jul 10, 2015

A powerful, and powerfully sad, experience. Read full review

Kerry Lengel

Jul 9, 2015

[An] exhilarating, brutally depressing documentary. Read full review

Guy Lodge

May 17, 2015

Hardly innovative in form, but boasting the same depth of feeling and breadth of archival material that made Kapadia’s “Senna” so rewarding, this lengthy but immersive portrait will hit hard with viewers who regard Winehouse among the great lost voices not just of a generation, but of an entire musical genre. Read full review

Rex Reed

Jul 8, 2015

Never failed to hold me spellbound, even when I saw obvious spots where easy cutting would reduce the agony to a much more comfortable running time. Read full review

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User Reviews

susank101

Jul 12, 2015

All-too-familiar tale with no spoiler alert needed as know how this ends, told in an original, poetic style befitting the subject. As an appreciator of Winehouse rather than a rabid fan, I came with an expectation that was neutral at best. But Amy's demise unfolds through the use of "homeAll-too-familiar tale with no spoiler alert needed as know how this ends, told in an original, poetic style befitting the subject. As an appreciator of Winehouse rather than a rabid fan, I came with an expectation that was neutral at best. But Amy's demise unfolds through the use of "home movie" footage, well-edited balanced interviews with those in her circle, and through the poignant, selective on-screen illustrations of her lyrics as her harrowing performances fill the screen. The result is a sympathetic portrayal of the unravelling of a vulnerable young genius, with an absence of blame or finger-pointing; like Amy herself -- deeply effective, original, and realistic without a shred of maudlin.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

gavink

Jul 11, 2015

Before seeing this film, I was already a "fan" (an idea she didn't approve of) of Amy. Went to see her 2007 Glastonbury performance when I was 12. I thought I knew just what kind of girl she was before her world got much darker. But I was struck by how little I actually knew about the wholeBefore seeing this film, I was already a "fan" (an idea she didn't approve of) of Amy. Went to see her 2007 Glastonbury performance when I was 12. I thought I knew just what kind of girl she was before her world got much darker. But I was struck by how little I actually knew about the whole picture after seeing Kapadia's documentary. She was bright-eyed, wise beyond her years and so loving to the people around her that the only person she could ever mistreat was herself. She truly had the most unadulterated relationship with music, something not every mainstream artist can claim these days. But like many other reviews have said, her story is much more complicated than that. Never openly placing the blame on any particular person or interest group, Kapadia keeps his/our gaze on the singer herself, allowing the audience to experience the world of Amy Winehouse through her own eyes. This intense focus on the subject makes the movie an engrossing and uncomfortable watch at the same time: on the one hand, we are delighted to witness on screen the unique mesmerising talent and the endearing, uninhibited personality that made Amy Winehouse tick; on the other, we are tormented by the gradual feeling of losing her again to depression, addiction and the unrelenting celebrity machine closing in on her. Even though the last twenty minutes of the film is almost unbearable and makes you hope the story would somehow end differently, you realise that deep down, the Amy you see toward the end of her life is still the same Amy all along --- her need for love and her capacity for loving those close to her had never diminished. Lost as she was, Amy was the only person who had remained true to others throughout the story.… Expand

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

foxgrove

Jul 12, 2015

A mesmerising and insightful documentary depicting the meteoric rise, fall and untimely death of troubled but talented Amy Winehouse. This amazingly compiled documentary which utilises a significant amount of unique and personal footage, starts at the top and goes on and up supplying inA mesmerising and insightful documentary depicting the meteoric rise, fall and untimely death of troubled but talented Amy Winehouse. This amazingly compiled documentary which utilises a significant amount of unique and personal footage, starts at the top and goes on and up supplying in minute detail information about the tragic star that was hither to unknown to me. Emerging somewhat damaged from a dysfunctional working class background and optimistically declaring that she was ‘not a messed up person, Amy’s vulnerability, shyness and penchant for cutting remarks tell an altogether different story.
The influences of both her husband and father, Blake Fielder and Mitch Winehouse respectively, are here clearly depicted as self-serving negative forces in her life. The former introduced her to the hard drugs that would assist her in pushing the self-destruct button, whilst the former was more concerned about his life style than the well- being of his troubled daughter.
Unusually this is not a documentary given over to talking heads. Instead we just hear the voices over filmed footage with titles informing us as to who is speaking and where the action is taking place. It makes for a refreshing change. Also, the brilliant decision to have the lyrics to her songs actually appear on screen as she is singing them adds volumes to our understanding of the singer, her demons and how she coped with them, albeit tragically.
Whilst the many unsavoury aspects of her life forces one to acknowledge that she could never be held up as a positive role model, her voice and talent were truly great. Her death at 27 was, under the circumstances, almost inevitable.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

ScribeHard

Nov 29, 2015

Amy hits all the points you want a musical-themed bio-doc to hit, from a future star’s obscurity to her struggles to her successes to her music to her face on the cover of Rolling Stone. All of that is special enough. But it’s how those points are hit, how her story is told, that makesAmy hits all the points you want a musical-themed bio-doc to hit, from a future star’s obscurity to her struggles to her successes to her music to her face on the cover of Rolling Stone. All of that is special enough. But it’s how those points are hit, how her story is told, that makes watching Amy Winehouse’s life story an exercise in living her life by her side. That’s beyond special.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

LeZee

Feb 4, 2016

Life on a thin line between pleasure and despair.

Do you think anyone says 'I should have known him' after watching 'This Is It'. The answer is definitely yes. In the non-English speaking countries, many people don't know who Michael Jackson is or was. To me, this documentary is a similarLife on a thin line between pleasure and despair.

Do you think anyone says 'I should have known him' after watching 'This Is It'. The answer is definitely yes. In the non-English speaking countries, many people don't know who Michael Jackson is or was. To me, this documentary is a similar case, I had no clue about who Amy Winehouse was or I never listened her musics before. So thanks to the director for this film and I also congratulate him for the Oscars nomination.

The movie was not complete. As any documentary this one too based on the recorded audio and video clips, and a series of interviews of whom she had worked with and closed ones. It was like a puzzle, but was arranged neatly in the chronological order. You know, you won't get all the truth from them, many stuffs remain mystery. So this is only a person's quality and character from many (people's) angles, but the accuracy, the honesty is with Amy that's never going to be revealed. Because only she knows about all she went through in her life like we do in our life.

Without arguably I agree films and documentary films are too short to squeeze all in about 2 hours to depict a person's entire life and people who watch it to judge that person is not justified. In this, the end was so sudden, like they had no more footages about what really happened. The trivia says Amy's father was not happy about the movie for the portrayal of his daughter, especially the last few years of her life. Only a very few know how much true this film is, but anyway something was very clear that he has not been the father she has wished for.

Every child deserves a good parenting. I feel Amy's struggle began from her childhood itself. But after the teenage, while becoming more independent, she lost her path, besides the fame poured in. She definitely had a gifted voice, she did not know how to manage it and someone should have been there to guide her. According to this film, I think the marriage was the beginning of the dark side of the Amy.

"When you looked at her lyrical and melodic capability,
she was a very old soul in a very young body."

I have not seen all the Academy Award nominees except this and 'Cartel Land', but I certainly think this film has the edge to win the best Documentary film. Definitely Amy's life story deserves to be made as a feature film and I'm up for it. Because somewhere I read the reply to a question 'why Bill Gates is not celebrated as the Steve Jobs? After all bother of them achieved a lot in the same field and contributed to modernise the computer technology'.

The reply was like this: 'Bill Gates was from a financially well settled family who was good at studies and his life was very smooth, support was poured from all the corners. While Steve Jobs was a child of an immigrant parents and had to struggle for his achievements. So he went through many ups and downs in his life and people have soft corner for that'.

This film had all qualities to inspire from the Amy's achievement as well as lessons to learn from her personal life. Everybody has their personal issues and so the Amy. Becoming a prey for the drugs and alcohol is very common these days among the celebrities. For example Heath Ledger, Philip Seymour Hoffman and many other stars are the victims for the drug addiction.

That does not mean their achievements are nothing. Simply, we see one of the many faces of them. After all, we're humans go after what we desire for, but everything has limits, after that what comes is a self-destruction. It is a very nice movie. If you know her and still want to know better, and if you don't know her and want to know about her, for both it is a must see.

8/10… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

hotfromcauldron

Jul 11, 2015

Amy is the same old story with a different meaning since she’s been gone.
A soulful poetess. A crippled chanteuse. A sorrowful life.
Floating lyrics light up the screen as demons darken this bright star. Fame can be fatal. And so many times we fail to save those who cry out for help. WeAmy is the same old story with a different meaning since she’s been gone.
A soulful poetess. A crippled chanteuse. A sorrowful life.
Floating lyrics light up the screen as demons darken this bright star.
Fame can be fatal. And so many times we fail to save those who cry out for help.
We were robbed of a Bennet / Winehouse tour - but her genius is forever grooved in the world of music.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

LowbrowCinema

Jul 4, 2015

Not quite the masterpiece it was hailed at Cannes, AMY is a good solid doc that uses mainly found footage. A lot has been written about the no talking heads structure which is actually not accurate. The heads are talking but we don't see them. This all points to one thing--AMY is actually aNot quite the masterpiece it was hailed at Cannes, AMY is a good solid doc that uses mainly found footage. A lot has been written about the no talking heads structure which is actually not accurate. The heads are talking but we don't see them. This all points to one thing--AMY is actually a very standard bio doc about a very talented woman that none of us really knew. The early scenes of her talent, wonderful humor, and true wit, underscore the tragedy and sadness of it all. I actually think the film would be better if it simply ended as her alcohol and drug use started. Then we would see the young woman so ready to find herself and we would only question what became of her. But back to AMY. Really just a standard film with some nice moments. The film also lacks a central focus or point, so it just becomes a lot of stuff about Amy.… Expand

0 of 13 users found this helpful013

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