The feature film Conrol, the story of the brief but influential life of Joy Division's lead singer Ian Curtis, who committed suicide at 23 years of age, could have turned out to be a by-the-numbers biopic—another tale of a musician undone by too much fame too fast. But in the hands of famed photographer-turned-movie director Anton Corbijn, the story of Curtis, in a fully realized performance by Sam Riley, burns with a new intensity. Corbijn cut his teeth in the art world as a photographer, and his understanding of texture and framing turns Control into a visceral viewing experience. Shot in stark shades of black and white, Corbijn ably captures the brooding nature of frontman Curtis and the electric music his band went on to make.
The scenes that will face the most scrutiny, the ones where Joy Division thrash onstage before ever-growing crowds, are handled in a straightforward manner that captures the explosive nature of the post-punk group's now-legendary gigs. Shot at those moments like the best of concert films, Corbijn and his actors work hard and, for the most part, capture the energy of the band. Riley acquits himself well during the performance footage where the camera spends a good amount of time watching him emote. In the downtime scenes, when we're introduced to the dark mood and inner struggles of the fiery frontman, Riley is heavily aided and, in fact, matched perfectly scene for scene by Samantha Morton. Her performance as Curtis' put-upon wife, Deborah, who goes from teenage girlfriend, to wife, to young mother, and widow, gives us the chance to glimpse the man behind the tortured soul.
The DVD release of Control is also loaded with plenty of extras, including extended live performances from the film, a behind the scenes "making of" docu, and commentary from Anton Corbijn.
|