A tribute to the fallen angel in all of us

Rating: 10/10 (18 November 2007)

Simply put, a beautiful film about the young man who had so much potential. The details of Ian Curtis' dark side are best left to the movie, but without spoiling, all I can say is I hope this film will win over new and future fans of what I believe to be the realest rock band that ever existed.
Going black-and-white is a big choice for a film being released in an era of CGI madness, when movies like Beowolf are topping the box office, but you get none of the played-out legendary thematics and sci-fi fairy tales with this film. This is a movie about the postmodern human condition, first and foremost.
Joy Division, unlike previously described, were not a punk band, but classified as Post-punk for several significant reasons. While the Sex Pistols thrashed and screamed and swore their way to fame, and while they are accredited with inspiring Joy Division and a number of other bands that eventually signed to Factory Records, they lacked something that Joy Division searched for in every one of their songs--a deeper meaning. The melodies of Joy Division's music evolved, and in only a few years, beyond even what most bands today are capable of producing. More importantly, the lyrics were never swept away by the distortion and echo-filled guitar and rhythms.To the contrary, they cut through the guitar's industrial opacity and reach deep within to the fragile mortality in all of us.
See this movie, spread the word, and learn how some things aren't meant to be beautiful.