Asif Kapadia previously directed the excellent SENNA documentary about motor racing, so I was automatically looking forward to this follow up. The subject matter wasn't as interesting to me, but I trust Kapadia enough to deliver an engaging documentary nonetheless.
He doesn't disappoint. AMY is a carefully judged exploration of the life - and death - of modern-day jazz singer Amy Winehouse, whose whirlwind rise to fame was accompanied by drug and alcohol addiction, bulimia, and some decidedly dodgy supporting characters. This lengthy documentary is never boring for an instant and manages to straddle the line between being a celebration of Winehouse's achievements and a portrayal of the increasing tragedy that her life became.
There are high spots - the Grammys, the duet with Tony Bennett - and low spots (the paparazzi attacks, the increasingly obvious toll that drug dependence was taking on her body), along with some obvious villains (step forward, Mitch and Blake). Where AMY really shines though is in its refusal to go the lazy route by interspersing clips with talking head footage; nearly every second of the film features footage of Amy herself, making this feel like a truly dedicated and immersive viewing experience.
He doesn't disappoint. AMY is a carefully judged exploration of the life - and death - of modern-day jazz singer Amy Winehouse, whose whirlwind rise to fame was accompanied by drug and alcohol addiction, bulimia, and some decidedly dodgy supporting characters. This lengthy documentary is never boring for an instant and manages to straddle the line between being a celebration of Winehouse's achievements and a portrayal of the increasing tragedy that her life became.
There are high spots - the Grammys, the duet with Tony Bennett - and low spots (the paparazzi attacks, the increasingly obvious toll that drug dependence was taking on her body), along with some obvious villains (step forward, Mitch and Blake). Where AMY really shines though is in its refusal to go the lazy route by interspersing clips with talking head footage; nearly every second of the film features footage of Amy herself, making this feel like a truly dedicated and immersive viewing experience.