Amy Winehouse's friend Mark Ronson DEFENDS controversial biopic Back to Black at the Critics' Choice Awards as he praises director Sam Taylor-Johnson for capturing the late singer's 'whip-smart humor'

Mark, 48, said he was 'looking forward' to seeing the upcoming biopicThe music producer was friends with the singer and collaborated on her musicThe film has been accused of 'exploiting the singer's legacy'

Mark Ronson has defended the upcoming Amy Winehouse biopic, Back to Black, claiming it captures the late singer’s ‘whip-smart’ humor as he revealed he is ‘looking forward’ to seeing the heavily criticized movie.

The music producer, who was friends with the beloved British star up until her death in July 2011, opened up about the film as he picked up the gong for Best Song at Sunday night’s Critics’ Choice Awards.

The film has attracted significant controversy prior to its release, with many accusing the project of ‘exploiting the singer’s legacy’ and ‘capitalizing off her trauma.’

Praising director Sam Taylor-Johnson, Ronson, 48, said: ‘The only thing I know about the film is I know Sam quite well and I read the script and I feel what it did really nicely was… I was reminded of her humor and it really caught that well.

Mark Ronson addressed the Back to Black biopic after picking up the Best Song trophy at Sunday night’s Critics’ Choice Awards

Marisa Abela, 27, plays Winehouse in Sam Taylor-Johnson’s film which has been accused of ‘exploiting the singer’s legacy’

Ronson, pictured with Winehouse at the 2008 Brit Awards, praised Taylor-Johnson for capturing his late friend’s ‘whip-smart’ humor

‘I think she just had this whip-smart razor sense of humor which is one of her many gifts and they got that very nice in the film. I’m looking forward to seeing it.’

His comments came days after the first trailer dropped showing actress Marisa Abela, in character as the troubled singer, who died from alcohol poisoning aged 27.

The trailer hints at Winehouse’s tumultuous romance with ex-husband Blake Fielder-Civil, who is played by Jack O’Connell, and also features glimpses of her struggles with mental illness and addiction.

Abela, 27, who starred in hit drama industry, is seen in tears running away from paparazzi, appearing outside court, and quipping: ‘You gotta remember, I ain’t no Spice Girl’.

Fans have protested the movie on social media, with some vowing to boycott it because they believe that people should ‘let her rest.’

Winehouse’s grief-stricken friends have also spoken out, arguing that it is too early for such a film to be made as well as accusing executives of failing to consult them about her life.

One told The Mail on Sunday that they are also unhappy at the casting of Abel because, despite the near perfect wig she wears and the identical tattoos, they do not think she looks like the Rehab singer.

They have also raised concerns over Abela’s social background with London-born Amy, who was known for her streetwise persona.

The trailer follows the late singer’s rise to fame and romance with Blake Fielder Civil played by Jack O’Connell (pictured)

Winehouse predominantly based her Back To Black album on her on and off relationship with Blake, who she had split from prior to its release in October 2006 (pictured together 2007)

Abela is seen emotionally singing Back To Black in the recording studio, while she declares: ‘I wanna be remembered, for just being me’

One friend said: ‘Nobody consulted us about Amy. How can it be authentic and accurate if they don’t know the real Amy or the truth about what happened in her final years? We are against this and we are upset. Amy was absolutely striking.’

However, her father Mitch defended the casting decision, saying Abela is a ‘great choice’, and arguing it doesn’t matter if they ‘don’t look exactly alike.’

Chatting with TMZ on the upcoming release, Mitch said: ‘Marisa is Marisa and Amy is Amy… so it’s no big deal if they aren’t mirror images. Marisa is a great choice for the role.

‘There’s too much emphasis on looks. Because there’s plenty of Hollywood examples of actors not looking like their real-life character.’

As an administrator of his daughter’s estate, Mitch has given his backing to the new movie with some proceeds going to the charity set up in her name.

But he did admit that he has clashed with Taylor-Johnson over the film, insisting some of his flaws were shown on screen.

‘I sent the first script back,’ he told The Mail on Sunday. ‘It made me look like a saint – like I should be knighted. It was too much.’

Winehouse tragically died from alcohol poisoning at the age of just 27 in July 2011, after struggling with substance abuse, mental illness and addiction (pictured in 2006)

Her father Mitch defended the casting of Abel and gave his backing to the film, with some proceeds going to the charity set up in her name (pictured with Winehouse in 2007)

Ronson collaborated with Winehouse on her second studio album, Back to Black, for which she won two posthumous Grammy Awards for best album and best pop album.

In the year before she died, she accused Ronson of taking credit for her success. He addressed the ‘testy’ patch in 2021, claiming: ‘We definitely squashed that.’

‘Of course, that record is all her – the soul of it,’ he told the Guardian.

Ronson won Best Song at Sunday night’s ceremony for I’m Just Ken from Barbie.