Review of Control (2007) by Stuart K — 19 Nov 2009
From Dutch photographer and music video director Anton Corbijn, comes this intimate biopic of Joy Division's enigmatic lead man Ian Curtis. 24 Hour Party People (2002) touched upon Curtis and Joy Division.
However, alot of that film was played for laughs, this isn't, this is a serious study of a troubled soul, a brilliant young man who died way too young. Shot in a stark black and white, it starts in Macclesfield 1973, where 17 year old Ian Curtis (Sam Riley) meets Debbie Woodruff (Samantha Morton), who is dating his best friend Nick (Matthew McNulty).
Ian and Debbie fall for each other, and marry young in 1975. A year later, Ian meets members of a jobbing band called the Stiff Kittens at a Sex Pistols concert, they've just sacked their lead singer, and Ian gets a chance to sing in the band.
The band change their name to Warsaw then to Joy Division. They sign up with Factory Records, and become big, but Ian's life and marriage falls to pieces around him. It's a tragic film, but it's also very engaging too.
It's well made, and quite minimalist too. Newcomer Riley is brilliant as Curtis, and Morton is very engaging as his wife. It's well made, but like Joy Division's music, this is a film to slit your wrists to.
This review of Control (2007) was written by Stuart K on 19 Nov 2009.
Control has generally received very positive reviews.
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