Control

Rating: 8/10 (17 October 2007)

Lots of time without much fanfare some movies are released, and amidst all the new movies  lots of time they get lost. It requires special skills to keep your sense open to read reviews from papers and friends to identify and be aware of some good movies are running. Control falls into that category.
This is a true story of British iconic signer Ian Curtis (Sam Riley) who is young, ambitious and dreamer. At tender age of 17-18 years gets involved with his friend's fiancée Deborah Curtis (Samantha Morton), and marries her. Parallel to that his career builds up as a lead singer with a small group called Joy Division. Years pass by and Ian gets involved with a journalist Annik (Alexandra Maira Lara) who comes to interview the rising stars. Ian troubles increase when he faces the terrible epileptic attacks. He is under pressure to deliver professionally  something new every time he is on stage. He does not feel the same passion with increasing commercial pressures. Ian remains confused and is not able to decide between his wife Deborah and his lover Annik  to both he hides his emotions and starts telling lies. In that depressed state  he starts drinking (which is bad for an epileptic) and feels falsely rejected and hated by everyone around him  finally leading him to get miserably drunk, and after a severe epileptic attack, commits suicide by hanging himself.
This movie is co-produced by Ian's wife Deborah Curtis, who has also written a biography Touching from a Distance  on which the movie is based. This is Dutch still camera photographer and music video maker turned Movie Director Anton Cobijn debut movie. He has done a marvelous job as a Director. The movie is shot in Black and White by cinematographer Martin Ruhe (I thought Anton would shoot the images himself). But the screen canvass is wonderfully shot  each image looking like a post-card perfect picture.
A special mention of the musical score used in original of Joy Division band. It is reminisces of 70's era and music.
Sam Riley digs deep into the psyche of Ian's character and one can not imagine Ian being any different from Sam. Brilliant role and performance which is well supported by all the other cast! Sam has already won 1 award for this role and the movie gathered 7 awards totally, and I think there would be more to come.
Hats off to Anton Cobijn to delicately handle this difficult subject of a singer's 4-5 years short life with such finesse! (Stars 7.75 out of 10)