Control ( 2007 ) Netflix Review

Starring:  Sam Riley, Samantha Morton, Alexandra Maria Lara, Joe Anderson, James Anthony Pearson, Craig Parkinson, Toby Kebbell, & Harry Treadaway

Directed By Anton Corbijn

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0421082/


     Early on in my life, I was exposed to the wondrous sounds of New Order.  The sound of the band left me feeling somewhat depressed, but at the same time enlightened.  It was only after my sister pointed out that New Order was the product of a tragically short lived  band Joy Division, that I had to find out more.  Not wanting to feel like an idiot, I set out to hear and see anything I could with Joy Division in it.  I soon discovered that Joy Division had that early New Order Sound, but the moment I heard Ian Curtis sing, I was completely floored.  It was as if Bowie and Iggy had a massive soul merge and added a touch of depression into the mix.  That was what I had envisioned when I saw Joy Division live on some VHS tape.

     After viewing some live performances, and watching interviews, I soon discovered that there was much more to Joy Division than I had originally thought.  Here was a band from Greater Manchester who all but pioneered the Post Punk movement of the late 70's and after being known as Warsaw changed the name to Joy Division.  Their 1978 debut  EP An Ideal for Living caught the attention of Manchester TV personality Tony Wison, who signed a contract in his own blood to get the band to sign to his label Factory Records.

     Upon signing to Factory records, Joy Division released their full length debut album Unknown Pleasures, which drew critical acclaim from the British Press.  Despite the bands fast growing success, everything wasn't so great for Curtis.  Being beset with personal difficulties, including a dissolving marriage and his diagnosis with epilepsy.  Curtis found it increasingly difficult to perform at live concerts, and often had seizures during performances, which lead him feeling embarrassed and even more depressed. 

     On the eve of the band's first American tour in May of 1980, Curtis overwhelmed with depression, committed suicide.  Joy Division posthumously released their second  album Closer, which contained the single "Love Will Tear Us Apart" becoming the highest charted single for the band.  After the death of Ian Curtis, the band went on and formed New Order, achieving critical and commercial success.

     All of the above mentioned content was almost on full display with the film Control.  Instead of making a run of the mill film about the rise and fall of the band, Anton Corbijn gave us the viewers, an absolutely beautiful piece of work.  Shot in Black and White, you almost feel as if you're with the guys when they attend a concert by fellow brits, The Sex Pistols.  Nothing was sparred at the expense of The Tragedy that was Joy Division.  Ian's seizures and the emotional aftermath, The spastic dancing, deep vocals, and pleading looks of depression were executed perfectly by Sam Riley.

      If you were ever a fan of Joy Division, or want to see an almost spot on film depicting what could've been an amazing force of music, then I would highly suggest Control to you.


-Mr. What?-  ( * * * * )