Control

Ok, I read a short posting on another blog, about this film. It showed some stills from the film and seemed good. Let me tell you, it was amazing. It's now on my list to own.

It's a "rockumentary" and biopic, except it has no interviews, pictures of the band, or really any dedications to lost band members. Control is based on a biography of Ian Curtis, written by his wife Debbie. He was the lead singer of "Joy Division," a post-punk alternative band. Now I have only heard of this band a few times, I'm thinking from all The Clash reading I've done.

Ian Curtis is a writer, a lyricist inspired by Bowie, the 60's (it shows Howl and other major works of the times) on his shelf. He finds a band (Warsaw) at a Sex Pistols gig and starts singing showing off his skill using words and instruments creating a new sound that became a movement in Manchester in the late 1970's.

This film was shot so beautifully, in black and white. It was just beautiful, and it put you in the picture and felt his emotion, and everyone elses. It was a tad creepy seeing a character look like a guy I've met. It was directed by Anton Corbijn, a rock photographer, and music video director.

Sam Riley, of 10,000 Things is the actor portraying Ian Curtis and does a fantastic job. It is more about his true life, not what the media portrayed him. The true, depressed, confused man...which eventually led to his suicide. Now every great rock musician dies. Yet some are living legends, but he was no hero by any stretch of the imagination. He was merely himself. I have now listened to all major songs by Joy Division and now a fan. Because of this film.

This film shows the frustration and confusion he had with his two loves, after marring Deb young, and figuring out the marriage was not working and that he was not a good father to his young daughter, Natalie and the hard decisions he had to make. Ian then met a young Belgian embassy worker, part rock journalist named Aniuk who steals his heart. This is one of the best films that shows true confusion and Sam Riley had a fantastic independent debut. He also being in the band "10,000 Things" also helped. Fantastic job, there are some well known actors performances that don't make me cry, and that did.

Favorite song: She's Lost Control. Great song, fits the mood of the entire film. It's so good.

Shot beautifully, with the black and white of Jim Jarmusch's Coffee and Cigarettes, and Down By Law (both films I adore), this man is so cool. Listen to his commentary on Down By Law and you will agree.

I'm talking to one of my friends about this band..well as I've been writing this YouTube videos have been playing. Addict. This film got me into them, and an odd thing is...one of my artist friends on Facebook mentioned The Stone Roses, which I listened for a while and saw they were in the same movement as Joy Division. They are a post-punk/alternative/independent band, with major inspiration from Bowie (who I adore anything he does-- no matter how weird..that just makes him cooler), and came after the Sex Pistols, and The Clash punk rebellion times. Let's just say it was an easy love. The film just brought their name to the table. The rest is history, I am now a fan of this 2 album band.