The great thing about art is that it can live on far longer than those who made it do. But some artists die far too young, and although they can leave behind an impressive legacy, there’s always a feeling of what more they could have done.

Bizarrely, there are a number of musicians who are all a member of an exclusive club which is this: that they all died at the exact same year of 27: Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, Brian Jones, and Kurt Cobain.

A more recent name added to that list is that of Amy Winehouse, who is the subject of this biography, directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson.

Working a few of the local pubs in the Camden Town area is singer Amy Winehouse (Marisa Abela). She’s a songwriter with a distinctive voice and sound, rooted in jazz, which soon gets a few record labels excited.

Amy doesn’t care about the fame and money however, she’s more concerned with the story – her story that fuels much of her work. Oh and drink, and lots of it.

And then one day she meets Blake (Jack O’Connell) in a pub, naturally, and is instantly attracted to him. But it is to be a relationship that will ultimately lead to her downfall.

For a film of this kind to work, it succeeds on one thing – and one thing alone – its casting. Director Taylor-Johnson hits it out of the park for six by having relative unknown Abela as her Amy. To say that Abela is phenomenal is an understatement. Initially at least, she doesn’t necessarily come across as an obvious Amy, but she grows into the role with confidence, to the point where don’t be surprised if you think she is Amy by the end of it.

Certainly a bonus to her performance is the fact that it’s actually her vocals being used in the many songs too, that she delivers with such accuracy, you would be hard press to tell if wasn’t Winehouse singing if you listened with your eyes closed.

A major part of this film is the relationship she had with Blake, played by O’Connell. Unfortunately his performance appears to be channelling Danny Dyer throughout, with you half expecting the next pub he storms off to to be The Queen Vic.

This is only the fourth film to be directed by Johnson, and the second biography after her debut Nowhere Boy focusing on the life of John Lennon.

It struggles with pacing throughout, with the director choosing to put in possibly one too many songs in, at the expense of storyline. All they serve to be are a showcase for the impressive talents of Abela, making the narrative tread water occasionally.

She also chooses to highlight the relationship Amy hand with her Nan, played by Lesley Manville; the problem is one scene establishes how close they are, and yet Johnson keeps going back to it, as if Amy has nothing else going on in her life worth focusing on.

It is a film then that will mostly be remembered for the stunning work of Abela, who, with an undeniable spirit and confidence, brings Amy back for one last show where she gets to woo the audience one more time.