The new biopic of Amy Winehouse, named Back To Black, has cut a hilarious hot mic moment from the 2008 Grammys where Amy reacted to the title of Justin Timberlake’s nominated song. While the film recreates the moment she won a Grammy for Rehab, her scathing aside about Justin has been deleted. Directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson, the film has been criticized for its ‘sanitized’ approach to Amy’s life and career, which ended tragically in 2011 with her death at the age of 27. Leading lady Marisa Abela has drawn praise for her performance, despite the mixed reception of the film.
The hot mic moment involving Amy Winehouse’s reaction to Justin Timberlake’s nominated song occurred during the night she won Record Of The Year at the Grammys for Rehab. When presenter Natalie Cole announced the title of Justin’s song, What Goes Around… Comes Around, Amy couldn’t contain her disbelief. The moment captured her stunned reaction to her own win, with her mouth falling open in surprise as the audience erupted into applause. This memorable moment was cut from the new biopic, Back To Black, directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson, likely to the disappointment of fans.
Despite Marisa Abela’s acclaimed performance as Amy Winehouse in the biopic, the film itself has faced criticism for its ‘sanitized’ and ‘superficial’ portrayal of the late songstress. Critics have pointed out that the movie fails to offer anything new or interesting about Amy or her music, calling it a ‘tame and mediocre affair.’ The film’s attempt to re-center Amy in her own story has been deemed by some as a misstep, with the Associated Press critic describing it as a ‘dreadful’ portrait of its subject. The reception to the film has been varied, with some praising the lead performance while others are critical of its overall execution.
Back To Black was released in the UK in April, but it did not receive a theatrical release in the United States until a month later. The delay in its US release may have impacted the buzz and reception surrounding the film. The movie’s choice to omit certain moments, like Amy’s reaction to Justin Timberlake at the Grammys, has been met with disappointment by fans who were looking forward to seeing these real-life moments brought to life on screen. Despite the mixed reviews, the film has succeeded in showcasing Marisa Abela’s talent in portraying the iconic singer, even if the overall portrayal of Amy’s life has been criticized as lacking depth and authenticity.
