Control
Control, directed by Anton Corbijn, is based on a book by Deborah Curtis (Matt Greenhalgh helped write the screenplay) about her husband Ian. Ian was the lead singer for a punk group called Joy Division. In 1980, just before the band was supposed to fly to the US for a tour Ian hanged himself. He was only 23.
I remember Joy Division. I can't say that I was a fan of theirs. But listening to the music throughout the film I can actually say that I liked what they were doing.
When the film starts Ian (Sam Riley) is in school. But he is much more interested in music. Deborah (Samantha Morton) is the girlfriend of one of Ian's friends. But a short while later they fall in love with each other. We then transition to Ian working at an employment center. But during the evening he plays with his band. We also find out that Ian is an epileptic.
As time goes on the band gains popularity. They start making records and become quite famous. All of this adds up to more pressure for the sensitive Ian. Along the way he and Deborah have a child. And he falls for a Belgian woman named Annik Honore (Alexandra Maria Lara). He really loves Annik but he also realizes that he stills loves Deborah and doesn't want to give her up. By the time the band is set to go to the States Ian is in such a state of turmoil (plus the fact that from time to time he has seizures) that he decides to end it all.
I didn't like that way the film jumped from Ian being in school to being a married man working at an employment center. That transition did not go smoothly. But I can overlook that flaw because the rest of the film is terrific. Corbijn shot the film in black and white and that is very
appropriate for the film. It adds to the already bleak mood. Lara is very good as Annik. Morton is a wonderful actress and as the put upon Deborah that she proves once again just how great she is. But ultimately the film belongs to Riley. He is absolutely mesmerizing as Ian. And you can feel his pain. Riley lets us see just what a tortured soul Ian Curtis really was. I hope to see lots of this young actor in the future.
I highly recommend this film to anyone who wants to see tough, realistic portrait of an artist in distress.
I remember Joy Division. I can't say that I was a fan of theirs. But listening to the music throughout the film I can actually say that I liked what they were doing.
When the film starts Ian (Sam Riley) is in school. But he is much more interested in music. Deborah (Samantha Morton) is the girlfriend of one of Ian's friends. But a short while later they fall in love with each other. We then transition to Ian working at an employment center. But during the evening he plays with his band. We also find out that Ian is an epileptic.
As time goes on the band gains popularity. They start making records and become quite famous. All of this adds up to more pressure for the sensitive Ian. Along the way he and Deborah have a child. And he falls for a Belgian woman named Annik Honore (Alexandra Maria Lara). He really loves Annik but he also realizes that he stills loves Deborah and doesn't want to give her up. By the time the band is set to go to the States Ian is in such a state of turmoil (plus the fact that from time to time he has seizures) that he decides to end it all.
I didn't like that way the film jumped from Ian being in school to being a married man working at an employment center. That transition did not go smoothly. But I can overlook that flaw because the rest of the film is terrific. Corbijn shot the film in black and white and that is very
appropriate for the film. It adds to the already bleak mood. Lara is very good as Annik. Morton is a wonderful actress and as the put upon Deborah that she proves once again just how great she is. But ultimately the film belongs to Riley. He is absolutely mesmerizing as Ian. And you can feel his pain. Riley lets us see just what a tortured soul Ian Curtis really was. I hope to see lots of this young actor in the future.
I highly recommend this film to anyone who wants to see tough, realistic portrait of an artist in distress.
posted by Film Fanatic | 2:40 PM
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