AMY (2015) 15

With a voice often described as a combination of Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington and Sarah Vaughan, Amy Winehouse was a pop star with soul; a once in two generations musical talent whose appeal crossed cultural and demographic boundaries. But while her music made her a star, her chaotic personal life stole headlines. Documentary director Asif Kapadia's film is steeped in a sense of loss as well is awe for Amy's prodigious talent, identifying her need for love as the driving force in her life. It is also an indictment of those closest to her, early collaborators on the film but now disowning its view of events.

The bottom line from Nigel Andrews: "Amy tells us all we wanted to know about the star and even, at times, makes us want to know more. Did she really sing this well? Yes. Did she really crash her life so badly? Yes. It’s an inspiring, harrowing, soul-boggling movie; though it wouldn’t be the testament it is — every bit as richly detailed as Kapadia’s Senna — without copious use of the paparazzi film and photo coverage the documentary condemns as helping to ruin Amy’s life. Ah well. That’s life; that’s art and cinema. Sometimes you’ve got to take the guilt with the gingerbread."