Review: Control
by malik on Oct.29, 2007, under movies
In probably the best shot and cinematic motion picture of the year, Control is not the story of Ian Curtis and/or Joy Division, but of Ian Curtis in Joy Division. Based on the book Touching From a Distance, by Curtis’ wife, Deborah, the film follows a teenaged Ian and his androgynous David Bowie influence to a Sex Pistol show that inspire him to join/form a band called Warsaw, which would quickly become Joy Division. We see Ian played brilliantly by Sam Riley, cope with his epilepsy and the rise of the band’s popularity. Ian is displayed as cold, unaffectionate and isolated only to get his feelings across through his lyrics. Samantha Morton played Deborah the loving wife who tired to help Ian thru his desolate state. In-between the excellent music scenes, we see Ian at his day job in an employment office and his affair with a Belgian fan, Annik Honore. On the eve of their first US tour, in the early hours of Sunday, May 18, 1980, Ian Curtis hanged himself in his kitchen,
To the diehards, most of the story was already known. The formation of the band, the record contract signed in blood by factory record label founder Tony Wilson, the mistress Annik Honroe, Ian’s epilepsy, remaining members forming the band New Order, etc. This biopic tried to congest as much feelings as possible and might have been slightly longer than it should because of it. Since there were numerous scenes of Ian by himself, such liberties were taken on his affairs. The film is not all despair. There are particular funny moments especially when band manager Rob Gretton (played by Toby Kebbell) is on screen.
Ian, due to the nature of his death, will forever be a cult figure. As a huge Joy Division fan, I can attest to the band’s continuing influence on music today. Much mystery clouds the band because they didn’t do interviews or talk with the press. They just played songs and those songs are truly remarkable. Control might be a slight tilt for a fanboy, but the moving pictures and especially the music can be enjoyed by all.
Joy Division – Disorder
