Overrated, falls short of expectations

Rating: 7/10 (25 November 2007)

If it weren't for the music, or if this movie wasn't about Joy Division, it would probably get a 6 out of 10. It's true, it's got some great black and white shots, quite nice use of music, both Joy's and Bowie's -though "Love Will Tear Us Apart" was too obvious- and Sam Riley's and Toby Kebbell's performances are also good. But that doesn't make a great film.
Go watch "24 Hour Party People". This should get you in the whole Manchester mood. It seemed to me (a Greek music lover far from the Manchester scene both locally and chronologically) a much much more enjoyable and honest film.
Conclusion? Not a bad movie, i recommend it so you may have your own opinion, actually made me shiver in one or two occasions... But that's because it was about Joy Division. The bad news: soulless, skin-deep, in fact a non-existent script (haven't read Deborah Curtis' book to compare), everyone's characters but Ian's are poorly portrayed... Copycating older footage doesn't make you a director.
7 out of 10 solely for the music and the live performances