He Lost Control

Today's review is on "Control" based on lead singer, Ian Curtis' (Joy Division) life.

Brief Summary:

Control is the biography of Joy Division lead singer Ian Curtis, taking his story from schoolboy days of 1973 to his suicide on the eve of the band's first American tour in 1980.In this time we see Curtis grow from David Bowie-infatuated teen to Sex Pistols-inspired punk, and eventually to rising new wave star.

The movie explores the pressures he felt, from his epilepsy, a failing marriage, his new lover, and a band that relied on him - all in an attempt to explain his decision to hang himself at the age of 23.

The movie is based on Deborah Curtis's biography "Touching from a Distance"

(Taken from imdb.com)

Random Quote: "So this is permanence; love-shattered pride. What once was innocence, has turned on its side."

My Review:

The movie begins when Ian is about 17-18 years old. This is the time when he first met his wife. As you read earlier, the movie was based on her autobiography. The movie is filmed in black and white, as the director thought it should be, as to follow the way that Joy Division had been photographed in their short time as a band.
There are very few videos of Joy Division but the gentleman who played Ian Curtis in the film did an excellent job portraying Ian based on what I have heard and seen. He even mastered the funny little dance that Ian did.
It was interesting to find all of the things that Ian went through. It was really quite sad. Kind of messed up as well.

The soundtrack was good. Sam Riley, the man who played Ian, was the actual singer for the film and he also did an excellent job with that.

There were also a lot of fun special features which included music videos, promotional materials, an interview with the director and much more.

As a whole the movie was pretty good.

4 out of 5 stars