NEW RELEASE DVD RECOMMENDATION – AMY

SUMMARY: The story of Amy Winehouse in her own words, featuring unseen archival footage and unheard tracks. — IMDB

MY REVIEW: I wasn’t aware of Amy Winehouse until her death hit the news media in 2011. But I decided to go and see this documentary because it was receiving accolades from critics. I’m glad I did (although “glad” is not quite the right word). Amy Winehouse could have been one of the great jazz/soul singer/songwriters the world had known. In her short 27 years of life, she rocketed to fame and fortune at a speed that overwhelmed her.  She died of alcohol poisoning on 23 July 2011. AMY unveils her life with photos, videos, music, and interviews in a powerful and moving journey. The story is incredibly tragic. While the documentary makes no judgements of Amy, it is clear that her desperate need for love and human connection were never fulfilled and, combined with intrusive scrutiny from the media, addiction to drugs and alcohol, and the mocking denigration of the public as she fell from grace, all conspired to lead her down the path to her unnecessary death. Even if you are not a fan of Amy’s music, this documentary is powerfully compelling. My only criticism is that it is a little too long. But that is a minor criticism for what is a brilliant film.