This Is The Way, Step Inside

Rating: 8/10 (9 December 2008)

In a day and age full of bloated and nostalgic musical biopics Control is a welcome breath of fresh air that proves the genre is still capable of producing films that are both artistically and aesthetically inventive. Anton Corbijn's feature length debut takes an intimate look at the short life of the ill-fated Joy Division front man Ian Curtis. Based on the book Touching From A Distance written by Ian's widow Deborah Curtis, Control tells Ian's tale without falling into sentimentality but rather investigates it.
Control premiered at Cannes in 2007 to a warm reception by critics and overwhelming praise of then little-known actor Sam Riley, the film went onto be the winner of the festivals Director's Fortnight. Riley's portrayal of Ian is so hauntingly natural and close to Curtis as a person that it gives the feeling that you are watching a stylized documentary. Corbijn whose photography career got a boost after shooting the original Joy Division in the late 70's knows his subjects closely and attempts to examine their lives and choices rather than just solely empathize with them. Corbijn believed so much in this film that he even decided to put down half the cash himself in order to produce this multi-million dollar film.
Aside from Riley's outstanding performance another highlight of the film is cinematographer's Martin Ruhe stark and brooding photography of Macclesfield, England is understated yet powerful. His images are crystal clear yet dark, isolated yet full of life, youthful yet mature. The film's pacing is tight and doesn't fall into the conventional traps that usually bog most biopics down. Corbijn's debut is a poetic ode to a man whom shares fated parallels with Corbijn and has been a source of lifelong inspiration, complete with an unforgettable final metaphor as poignant as it is beautiful.