‘You’ve got an eye for the bad boys Amy Winehouse,’ Amy’s beloved nan (Lesley Manville) warns her when they stray on to the subject of Blake Fielder-Civil. As the title suggests, Back To Black places that acclaimed album at its core, and the rocky romance that inspired it. Industry’s Marisa Abela steps into the dauntingly tall heels of a modern musical icon, with Jack O’Connell as Blake, and Nowhere Boy helmer Sam Taylor-Johnson back on biopic duty.

It’s a loving, intimate take on a notoriously devastating tale that strives to capture Amy’s attitude and contradictions. With the camera staying wedded to her, there’s not as much screentime as you’d expect for, say, dad Mitch (a cleverly cast Eddie Marsan). Blake features prominently though and is portrayed in all his complexity by a typically excellent O’Connell; although he can be cringing, cocksure and fickle, Blake is predominantly seen through Amy’s adoring eyes, and there’s no finger-pointing here.

We also get the story behind the singer’s tattoos, see her struggles with addiction, her touching bond with her aforementioned nan Cynthia, and her disinterest in becoming a global star. This proud Londoner is shown in her element, roaming the streets of Camden Town, and delighting friends and family with performances at Ronnie Scott’s and The Dublin Castle.

Matt Greenhalgh’s script sometimes resorts to cliches as it tries to neatly sum up a very knotty story and, in the film’s quest to remain respectful, some of the grit is lost, along with the sucker-punch of Amy’s downfall and death. Abela looks the part (from some angles quite eerily evoking the singer), doing a decent job on Winehouse’s smoky North London accent and distinctive singing voice, and capturing her charisma and mischief, if not always her edge. Despite some inevitable omissions, Back To Black gets most of the important things right, and it’s a stunning showcase for Amy’s music.

Back To Black is in cinemas from Friday 12 April.