Control

With Control, the debut feature film of photographer and artist Anton Corbijn, Corbijn has made a great film about Joy Divison's Ian Curtis. Making of Curtis more than just the famous frontman who died at young age, Curtis is presented as an ordinary twentysomething having to deal with marriage and fatherhood and a returning disorder which comes to haunt him his whole life. Played by Sam Riley, Ian Curtis is brough to life so vividly, making you as a viewer forget it's only a film you're watching and not the real band. Including some full performances of songs, which were performed by the actors themselves with Riley bearing a striking vocal resemblance to Curtis extraordinary voice. It's a breaktrough performance for the young actor who was once himself the frontman of his own band 10.000 Things. Entirely shot in black and white, because this is how Corbijn remembers the period when visualizing it in his mind, Control is one of the better biopics, showing the life of a young man, which was so short, but already so full of trouble. It's a life young adults will strongly relate to, which sets it apart from the person Ian Curtis. It could have been everybody's life, a life which seems so ordinary with Curtis showing no signs of arrogance or feeling of superiority. Like every young man he dealt with insecurities, being not at all like the tough frontman with this air of coolness he turned into once being on stage. Having this beautiful sad and somewhat melancholic atmosphere throughout the entire film, Control never becomes overly dramatic, but finds just the right tone and balance. It's a beautiful tragic story about a young guy trying to understand life. With Samantha Morton as Curtis wife, Control brings two great performances to the screen. Morton perfectly knows how to shape her character, going from young teenager to young adult trying to do things right like a good wife should. Control is heartbreaking at times, but also extremely funny, which has much to do with the band's manager, played by Toby Kebbell. The comedic parts never seem out of place or distracting as they are masterly interweaved with the more tragic scenes. It's what makes Control come to life so well. Corbijn has made a great film which can be seen as a great tribute to Joy Division and its frontman Ian Curtis. It has it all and manages to tell it very well. A wonderful film all round.

What is it about?

Ian Curtis, the singer of Joy Division who commited suicide at the young age of just 23, marries his teenage crush who soon ends up having his baby. In the meantime getting more and more succesful with his band Joy Division, Curtis starts to have trouble combining his life as a frontman with the role of father and husband. Also coping with epilepsy, Curtis has to deal with a lot of stressfull things for a man of his age. With much pain in his heart, he comes to fall for Annik Honoré, an admirer who after interviewing the band gets involved in a hectic relationship, knowing Curtis has a loving wife waiting for him at home. Deborah Curtis, Ian's wife who tries to hold things together ends up falling apart, wanting to leave Ian and losing trust in the man she so loved. Feeling honestly guilty and realizing his marriage was a mistake, Curtis starts to feel more and more insecure eventually falling out of love with life not longer able to deal with its pressure.

Final Verdict: *****

Control is a perfect film about the life of Curtis. It's very vivid and energetic, with never a dull moment. The band's great songs make you bop your head swiftly to the melodic tunes and the beautiful voice of Riley who sounds just like Curtis himself. Control is a beautiful film of how one can lose himself. Being someone with so much talent his future seemed so bright, but like every human being life didn't come easy. Providing some beautiful shots, especially of the concert performances and the working class landscape, Corbijn's depiction of Curtis gives him an even more legendary presence. The choice of having the actors perform the songs themselves is a very smart choice and works out more than fine, which has mostly to do with the great performance of Riley who really carries the film and shows a beautiful evolvement in character. Control is a great achievement which will not only appeal to fans of Joy Division but every person interested in great cinema. Control is more than a film about Ian Curtis, it's a film that could have been of any young man, which makes it all the more real.