Ian Curtis Film - Control

jackhammer · 04-28-2008, 06:54 PM

A review: (SOME SPOILERS)

The life of Ian Curtis has been chronicled in many books and magazines, also (Briefly) in the film 24 Hour Party People. However Control is a much more honest account being that is based upon his Widow's account: Touching From A Distance and is made by debutant film director Anton Corbijn who was one of the very first photographers of the band and hung around the band at the time.

The film is shot in gorgeous monochrome which echo's Corbijn's early band photos and succeeds admirably in recreating late 70's Northern England on a modest budget. This is; however, just one of the many impressive facets of the film.

The cast are exemplary, with newcomer Sam Riley as Curtis himself providing a very stripped down and subtle performance. Samantha Morton has always excelled in whatever she embarks upon and a special mention to Toby Kebbell (Dead Man's Shoes) for an instantly likeable performance of their manager Rob Gretton.

The slow, gentle pace was initially disconcerting for me but as the film grew apace it becomes apparent that this is exactly what the film (and story) deserves. Life for many bands starting at that social and political time could be seen as banal and ordinary. This is not Hollywood excess but Northern working class and Corbijn understands this implicity. Being in a band is not always fame and fortune. It is paying the bills and maintaining dignity.

What becomes apparent but which is never sledge hammered home is Curtis's wanting to do the right thing by his young family but which ultimately ends up with him blaming himself for a mistake that was and still is commonplace: falling in love too early in life. His failure to connect emotionally with his wife at such a tender age caused him massive internal pain and of course, lead to his introspective lyrics.

The film though never portrays Curtis as a bad person who embarks on an illicit affair, it merely documents the immense responsibility that he undertook at such a tender age.

The ending of his life is well known and the film uses a simple black screen and sound f/x to portray this but the subsequent images, and use of one of their most introspective tracks is brilliantly done and I have to say that I had a tear in my eye. Such was the power of the song and simple imagery it confirmed my view that cinema when made with heart and passion can stand side by side with the emotional complexity of music.

Rubberchicken · 04-29-2008, 08:07 PM

Love joy divison, love curtis hated the movie. It seemed amateurish and just plain painful to sit through. It could of been done so much better... with a lower budget and actors that actually cared. I wanted grit and realism not half wits over acting.

04-28-2008, 06:54 PM	#41 (permalink)
jackhammer Ba and Be. Join Date: May 2007 Location: This Is England Posts: 17,331	A review: (SOME SPOILERS) The life of Ian Curtis has been chronicled in many books and magazines, also (Briefly) in the film 24 Hour Party People. However Control is a much more honest account being that is based upon his Widow's account: Touching From A Distance and is made by debutant film director Anton Corbijn who was one of the very first photographers of the band and hung around the band at the time. The film is shot in gorgeous monochrome which echo's Corbijn's early band photos and succeeds admirably in recreating late 70's Northern England on a modest budget. This is; however, just one of the many impressive facets of the film. The cast are exemplary, with newcomer Sam Riley as Curtis himself providing a very stripped down and subtle performance. Samantha Morton has always excelled in whatever she embarks upon and a special mention to Toby Kebbell (Dead Man's Shoes) for an instantly likeable performance of their manager Rob Gretton. The slow, gentle pace was initially disconcerting for me but as the film grew apace it becomes apparent that this is exactly what the film (and story) deserves. Life for many bands starting at that social and political time could be seen as banal and ordinary. This is not Hollywood excess but Northern working class and Corbijn understands this implicity. Being in a band is not always fame and fortune. It is paying the bills and maintaining dignity. What becomes apparent but which is never sledge hammered home is Curtis's wanting to do the right thing by his young family but which ultimately ends up with him blaming himself for a mistake that was and still is commonplace: falling in love too early in life. His failure to connect emotionally with his wife at such a tender age caused him massive internal pain and of course, lead to his introspective lyrics. The film though never portrays Curtis as a bad person who embarks on an illicit affair, it merely documents the immense responsibility that he undertook at such a tender age. The ending of his life is well known and the film uses a simple black screen and sound f/x to portray this but the subsequent images, and use of one of their most introspective tracks is brilliantly done and I have to say that I had a tear in my eye. Such was the power of the song and simple imagery it confirmed my view that cinema when made with heart and passion can stand side by side with the emotional complexity of music. __________________ It be my music and film collection. “A cynic by experience, a romantic by inclination and now a hero by necessity.”

04-29-2008, 08:07 PM	#42 (permalink)
Rubberchicken Music Addict Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 85	Love joy divison, love curtis hated the movie. It seemed amateurish and just plain painful to sit through. It could of been done so much better... with a lower budget and actors that actually cared. I wanted grit and realism not half wits over acting. __________________ Would you like lies with that?