Drama

AMY (2015)

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This is an incredible documentary film about an amazingly talented young woman whose life is cut tragically short by excess, abuse and celebrity.

Asif Kapadia does it again. This time round I have a deeper connection to the subject. Amy’s first album ‘Frank’ really made a huge impression on me, being a jazz fan and hearing whip smart, incredibly personal lyrics sung with the skill and talent of one blessed with a voice well beyond her years. With Kapadia’s other feature documentary, Senna, my interest in the subject was minimal but boy does he know how to get you emotionally involved. I loved Senna and equally I loved Amy. Let’s not forget Kapadia’s feature film debt The Warrior, which if you haven’t seen is definitely worth a look and is NOT a documentary.

The tragedy here unfolds before our eyes as we are (unfortunately?) privileged to witness early home videos showing the trajectory of this brightly burning candle and it is very sad. This film moved me a great deal and sat with me for a long time afterwards. The way the press hounded her and tried as hard as they could to get her to snap was criminal and it hits home how it is so easy to judge and have an opinion about a celebrity as though they are creatures in a zoo, somehow different than the rest of us and what Kapadia does brilliantly is allow the humanity to shine out of his subject.

The use of voice-overs without seeing the interviewees is brilliant, it allows the viewer to focus wholly on Amy, this is not about them, they were merely players in the show, the star was Amy and it is she who shines the brightest. Seeing her insecurities and getting a deeper understanding of this force of nature builds empathy in the viewer. On the one hand she is a scared little girl and on the other a mighty diva who isn’t shy of airing her opinions. This is the human condition, we are all contradictions who sometimes lash out with the same hand we caress our loved ones with.

Amy is a cautionary tale about fame and celebrity, and the importance of having true friends around you when the madness is in full swing. Sometimes the flame of life burns so brightly that it is extinguished sooner as it burns out, Amy joined the 27 Club along with Kurt Cobain, Jim Morrison, Brian Jones, Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin.

A tragedy, but at least the music is still out there.

A must watch.

4/5

BUY THE FILM ON BLU RAY DVD HERE

DOWNLOAD THE FILM ON iTUNES HERE

 

INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIES (2013)

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A week in the life of struggling folk singer in Greenwich Village, New York, 1961.

The Coen brothers follow their remake of True Grit with this quiet portrait of a musician trying to make a living through his art.

This is an intimate portrayal of an artist in the throes of trying to eat, survive and be successful. Oscar Isaac is as usual, superb, cementing him as the goto actor of the moment. Carey Mulligan is alright, not sure about her, she was good in Never Let Me Go and An Education but how versatile she is, je ne suis pas sûr. Justin Timberlake is alright as well, no big performance break-throughs, merely playing the part. It’s all about Isaac, his stillness, frustration and incredible vocal and musical skills are all on display and he carries this film with ease. It is the sort of film that won’t challenge its audience too much, the struggling artist angle would have failed were it not for Isaac.

It took me a long time to get round to watching this as I knew it would be a certain type of film, I was right. I’m glad I saw it, kinda, but don’t think I’ll be revisiting it anytime soon. This is definitely a taste call. The film is very well-made and features sturdy performances, the writing is sharp as we have come to expect from the Coens and these are definitely reasons to see it.

John Goodman appears; he does what he always does and smashes it as an ‘out-there’ jazz musician. Garrett Hedlund is perfectly ‘beat’ as a poet whose mind is alive with words and thoughts like a crazy person, bringing to mind a stoned Neal Cassady.

The music by T Bone Burnett is a perfect example of the time, creating folk music that seems like it was written in the 1960’s. Joel and Ethan Coen add another film to their oeuvre that, this time, is interesting without any major fireworks (for me). A Sunday afternooner.

3/5

BUY THE BLU RAY DVD HERE

DOWNLOAD THE FILM ON iTUNES HERE