Control (2007) [Blu-ray]

I am a huge Joy Division fan and have read Deborah Curtis's book several times. I was sceptical when this film was released but was pleasantly surprised by the filmmaking and the acting; Sam Riley is brilliant as Ian Curtis. I am also impressed that Sam and the actors performed the music themselves and have done such a fine job. Of course there are some omissions (from the book) but overall it is a well made film which chronicles the life of Ian Curtis and his personal complexities, as well as providing an insight into Joy Division. It is nice to finally own a copy of this DVD and is a film I never tire of watching when the mood takes.

I read lots of other reviews with different star ratings, and was struck by how balanced they are were, even the ones with particular complaints, such as the film not showing the song writing process or in depth character portraits. It would have been a very dull film indeed showing Curtis waiting for inspiration (Mike Scott from The Waterboys described writing a good song as having all your planets in alignment - try filming that) or the band sitting in vans for hours on end reading, cracking jokes or commenting on topical events (spending so much time together off-stage, the conversation most likely wouldn't have been that scintillating). All the reviews I read agreed that the filming and capturing of the place and time were very good. The acting likewise, though one reviewer wrote that the band claimed Curtis didn't appear depressed towards the end, which I thought was fair comment - what was he like when he wasn't down in the dumps and surly as he is portrayed throughout the film (except the romantic bits) even in the bands moments of triumph? Another reviewer claimed all the band and management were rather angular characters. They did seem to me to be teetering on illiterate cynicism one minute and showing compassion towards Curtis the next. But isn't that what you do in a film - squeeze in the highlights based on the information you have? Recommended.

I wasn't sure about watching this; I wasn't a massive fan of Joy Division (they were slightly before my time), but I had some time on my hands and wanted to watch something and this had great reviews. I was not disappointed. Everything is brilliant, the cinematography, the acting, the music, the characterisation, the greyness of the story that portrayed Curtis' angst. I highly recommend this. The only thing for me is that afterwards, I did a bit of googling and it reported that Annik Honore said her relationship with Curtis was platonic, which shines a slightly different light on things for me. But still a thoroughly entertaining watch, which I highly recommend.

Amazing portrayal of Ian Curtis from joy division and insights into his life - beautifully shot. No earth shattering revelations but an accurate portrayal of those times in a steadily decaying UK under Thatcher as Ian Curtis's health and mental health decayed. Not a sad film and no glamourising of Ian Curtis's suicide . The group of actors did an amazing job of emulating the sound an look of Joy Division.

Inspired by finally having got round to reading Debbie Curtis's book, I just watched Control for the second time and was moved even more than when I saw it in the cinema. Being just a few months younger than Ian Curtis, I was lucky enough to have seen Joy Division play five times and it is astounding how the actors recreate the raw energy and unique sound of the band. But as others have pointed out, it is far more than a music biopic and gets to the heart of the human condition in a way that makes it essential viewing for anyone, whether you love JD's music as I do or not. The performances of Riley and the rest of the cast, along with Corbijn's sensitive direction and of course the top class soundtrack make the film a true masterpiece.

Before watching this film, it struck me how many ways they could get this film wrong - pandering to his wife (who co-wrote the script), unconvincing acting and, perhaps the greatest potential error: pretentious directing.The good news is that the film avoided all of these pitfalls and was actually way better than I expected (for such an acclaimed film). Although not a ray of sunshine, the acting was convincing and the plot wasn't too focused around the bleak side of Ian Curtis. In my opinion, it seemed in keeping with Stephen Morris' description of Curtis being "an ordinary bloke just like you or me, liked a bit of a laugh, a bit of a joke."And as for the story being biased in favour of his wife, the story seemed fair when it came to Annik Honore (Curtis' alleged mistress), portraying her as more of a friend, rather than any sort of bad influence.Of course, if you don't like bleak films or biopics about troubled rock singers, then this isn't for you.However, if you want to see a fairly balanced and well-researched treatment of the story of Ian Curtis, which shows him as a 3 dimensional, fairly normal guy, then this is about the best you'll get.It's also worth mentioning that I'm not really a fan of Joy Division and have only really ever heard 1 or 2 of their songs. If you're concerned that this film is an inpenetrable geeky fan portrayal then don't worry - it's not.

Yes, even if you'd never been aware of Joy Division, and there are some people like me who hadn't, this movie is extraordinarily moving. The players are terrific. Whether or not they actually resemble the characters they represent is relatively unimportant in relation to the human drama which unfolds. The film as a whole leaves an emotional impact upon you which resonates long afterwards.Martin Ruhe's cinematography, in needle-sharp black and white, complements and underpins the drama beautifully and evokes a time and a place that play a central role in Ian Curtis' story. Likewise the production design and even the carefully chosen cars and vans which heave into view at moments throughout offer a totally convincing picture of the times.Highly recommended as a powerful human drama which transcends its era.