The misses and me watched "Amy" - the Amy Winehouse documentary last night.

I guess it depends on your own particular cup of tea - but I found it riveting.

It takes about 15 minutes to get going (kind of a slow - but needed - start). It turned me from having zero  empathy to having a great deal of empathy for her and is a pretty good lesson on what can happen to young celebs if they don't have the right people around them.  

I wouldn't watch it but I do think she was a great talent and enjoy her songs whenever I hear them.

I hope it wasn't just a repair job so the estate can continue to profit from her legacy. By the "right people" I assume you mean those that tell you to take the needle out of your arm?

Quoted from TonyDionisio I hope it wasn't just a repair job so the estate can continue to profit from her legacy. By the "right people" I assume you mean those that tell you to take the needle out of your arm?

I really don't a clue on what the motivation behind the film was and don't think my view of it would change if I did.

The film opens with a normal, happy go lucky 14 year old who just happened to have an incredible singing talent and ends with a 27 year old who drank and drug her self to death. The 13 year journey in between is well documented and in my view compelling.

By "right people" - yep - I mean those who tell you to take the needle out of your arm as well as though who tell you that your value to them has nothing to do with your fame or fortune. For example, after an intervention my child hood friends, Amy's father talked her out of going to rehab because she had concert dates. Gave meaning to her lyrics:

They tried to make me go to rehab
I said, "no, no, no"
Yes, I been black
But when I come back, you'll know, know, know
I ain't got the time
And if my daddy thinks I'm fine

I haven't a clue how I would have handled fame and fortune as an 18 to 22 year old - maybe I would have thrived or maybe I would have fucked it up like Amy along with dozens of others young celeb stories that are similar to hers. From the perspective of the documentary at least, she had little (if not damaging) parental guidance and those around her encourage her in directions to make money with no regard to her well being.

So yeah, the film did move me from my original view (i.e., hey - if you want to fuck up your life don't look for any sympathy from me) to a more empathetic one.    

I get what you're saying. You enjoyed it and that's fine. If one was to emulate the story what in your opinion was the antagonist? The drugs or the people she surrounded herself with?

It's just hard for me to think that someone with God-given talent -- ya, I capitalized it -- was an inspiration during the 13 years she "destroyed herself". There are countless numbers of people who face the same demons yet overcome -- that's where I would think a real story is.

Was it a feature length documentary?

"So yeah, the film did move me from my original view (i.e., hey - if you want to fuck up your life don't look for any sympathy from me) to a more empathetic one."

You should consider volunteering your time to help people in need. My friend does it and I respect the hell out of him for it. Drug abusing artists -- not so much.

Quoted Text I get what you're saying. You enjoyed it and that's fine. If one was to emulate the story what in your opinion was the antagonist? The drugs or the people she surrounded herself with?

I didn't think there was an antagonist per se - it was a documentary.

Quoted Text It's just hard for me to think that someone with God-given talent -- ya, I capitalized it  -- was an inspiration during the 13 years she "destroyed herself". There are countless numbers of people who face the same demons yet overcome -- that's where I would think a real story is.

Talent, God given or otherwise, is not an inoculation against addiction anymore than having blue eyes is. It's akin to saying, Van Gogh shouldn't have been nuts because he could paint. Mental illness, addiction, etc can easily be separate and apart from talent. I don't understand the connection you are making.

Quoted Text Was it a feature length documentary?

Yes

Quoted Text "So yeah, the film did move me from my original view (i.e., hey - if you want to fuck up your life don't look for any sympathy from me) to a more empathetic one." You should consider volunteering your time to help people in need. My friend does it and I respect the hell out of him for it. Drug abusing artists -- not so much.

I have two dead sisters from overdoses and a brother pretty much on the same path (I think he'll be dead within a few months. Frankly, I hated them for their addiction along with their abandonment or their children. I would have not had any more or less disdain had they been "artists".  The occupation of the addict is irrelevant.