Amy (2015)

The British singer songwriter Amy Winehouse was found dead on July 23, 2011 presumably from alcohol poisoning. Her heart just stopped. Asif Kapadia's extraordinary documentary chronicles her life from a young girl abandoned by her father (who would later come back into her life when she found fame) and a mother who let her run wild to an international Grammy winning star unable to fight off her demons nor those leeches who fed off her. It's a painful and heartbreaking watch but Kapadia also celebrates her amazing talent and we actually see her change before our very eyes from the goofy teenage girl to the zonked out diva getting booed off the stage. Friends, family and co-workers share their memories even if some of them were the very ones who led her down the garden path. A film like this is so much preferable and powerful (and truthful) than a Hollywood movie biography starring an actress in an Oscar bait performance. If you've heard Winehouse's remarkable voice and music, you know what a loss this was. If you're unfamiliar with Winehouse, do yourself a favor and see the film.