Review of Control (2013) by Joel M — 29 Sep 2008

Sam Riley's mesmerizing performance as former Joy Division lead singer Ian Curtis in the bio pic "Control" undeniably had control as one of the best of 2007. Director Anton Corbin's cinematic take on the uncontrollable melancholic life of the un-joyous vocalist is a commendable film orchestration.

Curtis committed suicide at age 23 in 1980. Corbin reveals Curtis' constant struggles with self-esteem, adultery, epilepsy, and fame throughout the narrative; starting with his post-adolescent days as a British loner to his self-destructive final act.

Curtis married at a young age to gentle gal Debbie; but due to the hasty marriage, he consequently fell out of love in the coming years and suffered much self-ridden guilt from it. Curtis, still married, then meets a sexy Belgium named Annik and falls deeply in love with her even though he knows that adulterous "love will tear him apart".

Corbin also shows us the Joy Division "transmission" from local band status to rock-solid popularity "atmosphere" status. The dialogue interactions scenes between the Joy Divisionees and their manager Rob Gretton are the film's comic relief from an otherwise gloomy rock star story.

Samantha Morton's auteur work as Mrs. Debbie Curtis was one of the most powerful of the year and Ms. Morton proficiently demonstrates that she never lost control of her character. Joe Anderson, James Anthony Pearson, and Harry Treadaway were no "dead souls" in their performances as the Joy Division members.

They just might be included in the "New Order" of promising British actors coming our way. And without a doubt you can book Toby Kebbell's effort as Gretton as one that definitely rocked! But it is Riley's ("believe it or not" "Is that really Ian Curtis?") acting that falls as probably as the most overlooked performance of 2007.

I was all hung up when Sam's stunning achievement was "isolated" away from the Best Actor Oscar nominees list for 2007! I guess there is so much that we can control. Now it is time for you take control and tune in to "Control" today! ***** Excellent.