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Control [2007] | ![Control [2007]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51mGfESiZoL._SL75_.jpg)
 enlarge | Director: Anton Corbijn
Actors: Sam Riley, Samantha Morton, Craig Parkinson, Joe Anderson, James Anthony Pearson
Studio: Momentum Pictures Home Ent
Category: DVD
List Price: £19.99
Buy New: £5.00
You Save: £14.99 (75%)
New (29) Used (4) from £3.25
Avg. Customer Rating:  45 reviews
Sales Rank: 247
Format: Pal
Rating: To Be Announced
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 122
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.4 x 0.7
EAN: 5060116721324
ASIN: B000VRVTCA
Theatrical Release Date: 2007
Release Date: February 11, 2008
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Condition: STILL SEALED
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Amazon.co.uk Review
Musicians have long proven to be a well of inspiration for film makers, and so it proves again with director Anton Corbjn's telling of the story of Ian Curtis and Joy Division, Control. Based on the book of the same name, the first of Control's many successes is to make prior knowledge of the subject matter unnecessary. And while music is an important part of the film, the movie ultimately focuses in on the relationship between Curtis and his wife, Deborah. It's a moving and emotional rollercoaster, and one realised with exceptional skill and grace by Sam Riley and the ever-astonishing Samantha Morton in the lead acting roles. The former is someone very much to watch, the latter is surely long overdue an Oscar. Credit too must go to director Corbjn, though, who builds up Control with diligence and discipline. He shapes a musical biopic that distinguishes itself from its numerous contemporaries, and while it perhaps doesn't spend enough time with the Joy Division side of the story, it's a film that's otherwise hard to fault. Control, ultimately, not only managed to sidestep many of the contrivances of the genre, but it also offers a raw, electric and emotional experience, and proved to be one of 2007's finest films. Don't miss it. --Jon Foster
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| Customer Reviews: Read 40 more reviews...
Excellent production...................................................... July 15, 2008
Filmed in black and white, this is an atmospheric film about Ian Curtis, frontman of the Joy division. I admit I had never heard of him before buying this DVD. A sufferer from epilepsy he appeared to be a victim of the side effects of the cocktail of prescription drugs he had to take. The poor lad was left totally confused and they did nothing for his condition.The film follows his short life to his death at twenty-three.
The soundtrack is superb and the acting natural and spontaneous.
It reminds me of the wonderful film noire of the sixties.
Well worth a viewing.
 Haunting and engrossing. June 2, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Control is the 'biopic' of Ian Curtis, the lead singer with the late 1970s rock/post-punk band Joy Division. Between 1977 and 1980 Joy Division were a number of bands who helped establish Manchester as a centre of musical excellence in the UK. They released two absolutely seminal albums - Unknown Pleasures and Closer - and a slew of hit singles and EPs, culminating in 'Love Will Tear Us Apart', which catapaulted them into the charts and set the scene for their first tour of the United States. But, on the eve of that tour in May 1980, Curtis committed suicide at the age of 23. A year later his bandmates reconvened, renamed themselves NewOrder, and went on to become one of the most successful bands of the 1980s. Control is Curtis' story.
Control is the first full-length film to be directed by Anton Corbijn. This is somewhat surprising, as Corbijn has been directing music videos for a quarter of a century, working with bands such as Depeche Mode, U2, Nice Cave, Bryan Adams, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Mercury Rev and Coldplay, not to mention directing the 1988 re-release of the Joy Division song 'Atmosphere'. He is also a highly acclaimed photographer, responsible for the sleeve design and photography for, among others,U2's The Joshua Tree.
For this film, Corbijn chose to use his trademark black-and-white imagery. It may be a cliche - this is a dark and somewhat depressing film - but it works well, especially when compared to Michael Winterbottom's 24 Hour Party People which covers same of the same story in blazing technicolour. Still, I couldn't help wondering if perhaps Corbijn should have moved outside of his comfort zone and perhaps bled colour and black-and-white together as the film moves from the happy optimism of youth into darker and more suffocating territory.
The film opens in 1973 with Curtis still at school, showing him as a massive fan of David Bowie and falling in love with his first girlfriend, Deborah, whom he marries shortly after leaving school before getting a job working for the local unemployment office. He dreams of being a writer and a rock star, and hears about a local band called Warsaw founded by guitarist Bernard Sumner and bassist Peter 'Hooky' Hook, but they're lacking a singer. After catching a performance by the Sex Pistols, Curtis decides to join up, providing lyrics and taking over the microphone. A blazing trail of success follows: they change their name to the more successful Joy Division (the name of a brothel made up of Jewish women used by the SS in WWII, which immediately earns them the ire of some groups who accuse them of being Nazi sympathisers), get some performance slots on TV and record a successful debut album, Unknown Pleasures. Ian and Deborah also have a baby daughter. But, coming back from the band's first gig in London, Curtis is struck down by epilepsy. Unable to take the pressure of being in the band and in his job at the same time as suffering from his illness, he resigns from his job and Deborah has to bring in a living wage. During a foreign tour Ian meets and falls in love with a Belgian fanzine-writer, Annik, which complicates things even further.
A film like this lives and dies based on its performances and they are universally excellent. Newcomer Sam Riley gives a stunning performance of the haunted, intense Curtis. The only major criticism I have is that Curtis' sense of humour doesn't come through in his performance, but that may be more the fault of the writer. 24 Hour Party People and Deborah Curtis' book, Touching from a Distance, both make it clear that Curtis wasn't constantly down and depressed, but from this movie you don't get that impression. Deborah Curtis is played by the much more well-known Samantha Morton, who gives a sympathetic performance as the wife who is left behind when her husband finds fame (but not fortune) as a rock star. Another stand-out is German actress Alexandra Maria Lara (who was excellent in the 2004 movie Downfall), who plays Annik. Also of note is Toby Kebbell, who plays the band's infamously acid-tongued manager Rob Gretton, who provides much of the film's humour.
Control is a haunting movie consisting of stunning performances and a soundtrack to die for (the actors, impressively, actually play and sing all the Joy Division songs themselves). It makes for uncomfortable viewing at times, but is an engrossing piece of work.
EMOS MUST LEARN MORE ABOUT DEPRESSION! May 25, 2008
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
While watching this fabulous ANTON CORBJIN's film I remembered each and every word I said while broadcasting my radio shows in Peru throughout all these past years and talking about IAN CURTIS's life to my audiences. Sadness is not only a word. Emos must know that before them there was IAN CURTIS & JOY DIVISION.
HELENE RAMOS GALAGARZA
peruvian journalist,radio host & producer
cyber dj,promoter,editor,designer,reviewer
 The stars are for Samantha Morton May 20, 2008
0 out of 3 found this review helpful
Like an episode of Eastenders stretched out to a couple of hours with all the drudgery and tedium that would go with that. I was wishing near the end that he would just get on with the inevitable so i could go and do something slightly interesting like the washing up.
I was i have to say immediately ill-disposed to this film the moment i realised it was in black and white; a quite dull cliche as an indicator of earnestness which should have been outlawed after Schindler's List.
If it hadn't been for my watching it with the girlfriend and not wanting to spoil it for her i'd have bailed at this point. Turns out she thought it was a pile of doings too so i needn't have bothered.
 I've Lost Control Again... May 9, 2008
2 out of 5 found this review helpful
I watched this film having (once again) been wowed by the flattering reviews in the papers. Once again I was left cold and disappointed.
Not only was the film rather dull but by the time the closing credits appeared, my scant knowledge of the life of Ian Curtis had hardly been added to. I just feel it was a lost opportunity to give us some real insight into the man and his music. I just hope the documentary on the life and times of the band is more informative.
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