Closer

Rating: 10/10 (2 November 2007)

Much debate was had at the time as to whether Joy Division's second album "closer" was pronounced with a soft s, as in; nearby, or a hard one as in; the end. Of course the latter won through because of the inevitable consequences of Ian Curtis' life.
I was a "fan" of Joy Division at the time, being of an impressionable age (IC died on the day of my 18th birthday) but I was nowhere near as influenced by them as I was by Hooky and the boys when New Order took over. Indeed Blue Monday is probably my seminal song of all time.
So, I didn't go into the movie theatre all agush.
If anything, what I might have gushed at would be Anton Corbijn's cinematography, because I was more in awe of him as NME's seemingly resident photographer than I was of Joy Division.
However, for the first two acts of this movie Joy Division rose above my love of New Order because this was Joy Division - not a Joy Division tribute band. It was Joy Division because Anton caught them as he did in 1979, albeit a little less grainy. No question.
Their music rocked, but more importantly rolled. Joy Division's drumming is often overlooked because Ian Curtis took centre stage so powerfully, but make no mistake, Stephen Morris was an integral part of the Joy Division sound.
So, to the film. Anton Corbijn you would hope/expect to cinematograph well, but direct? Oh yes.
Oh yes he can direct.
He does of course have the talent of Samantha Morton at his beck and call and she has guaranteed a BAFTA for this one. She is brilliant.
At the start of the film she is a dippy love-stuck teenager, and believable with it. As the film progresses she deals with the disintegration of her marriage in about as understated and believable way as you could possibly imagine.
Now, Sam Riley, as Ian Curtis looks the part. That is well documented. But he also plays the part. It would be so easy to go OTT in this performance, but he controls it (perhaps a clue from the movie title).
His performance is quite simply, immaculate.
As act three and the real point of the film unfolds we lose Joy Division and we find the Curtis' and the Belgian lover of Curtis in a true love story. It is moving, beautiful, sad and nailed! Totally nailed. And for a movie bio pic to do that one can do no less than award 10 out of 10.
Stunning.