The first reviews for the Amy Winehouse biopic are out now, receiving a divisive reaction on film critic platform Rotten Tomatoes.
After starting off with a 20% score, the film has now climbed up to 50%. However, it does not seem like the boost will help save the film's critical reception.
Several reviews blast the film as "unwatchable" and a "Disney version" of the late singer's life, with one critic revealing that they were moved to having a physical reaction from its flaws.
"This is a film that does not paint a nice or fair picture of her as a human, nor get across how special an artist she was," London Evening Standard critic Hamish Macbain said in a one-star review. "The final scene, in particular, with its completely and utterly baseless, sensationalist implications, made me physically gasp in horror."
The much-talked-about film, aptly titled Back to Black after the GRAMMY-winner's iconic tune, stars Marisa Abela as Winehouse. The flick also features Eddie Marsan, Eddie Marsan, Lesley Manville, Juliet Cowan, Jack O'Connell, and more.
An official logline for the film suggests that it tells "the extraordinary story of Amy Winehouse's early rise to fame and the making of her groundbreaking album, 'Back to Black.'" Told from the perspective of Winehouse, the film will follow her "tumultuous" relationship at the center of the iconic album.
Other reviews insinuate that the film paints an unsympathetic picture of the "Valerie" performer's life, which was riddled with addiction and mental illness.
"As much as the party line insists this film is a celebration of Amy's musical genius, it is as salacious and cruel as any tabloid cutting from the noughties - only invested in the bloody ballet pump left in the street, not the complexities of living a very public life with addiction,' Little White Lies reviewer Rogan Graham wrote, citing Abela has the film's "saving grace."
The movie was not totally blasted, as it does have its fair share of positive reviews. Film trade site Variety raved that the backlash for Abela's performance as Winehouse is "nuts," stating that she is "an authentic force of nature" in the film.
"At its best, Back to Black, the forthright and compelling movie that's been made of Winehouse's life, takes that light/dark balance and digs into the drama of it, making it sing. The film's snaky on-and-off power begins with the British actor Marisa Abela, whose lead performance nails Amy Winehouse in every look, mood, utterance, and musical expression," Owen Gleiberman's review reads.
Many critics also comending Abela for opting to use her real vocals to sing Amy Winehouse's music for her performance. The decision is a risky one for a biopic, with many actors opting to lip sync to a singer's music.
The film received extensive backlash when the first trailers and paparazzi shots debuted. Negative responses went viral on social media, forging a difficult path for the film at the box office.
Back to Black officially hits theaters on May 17.
