Control DVD Review

"Control" reviews

DVD

Control

Author

anonymous

Date reviewed

2008-02-08 15:50:32

Provider

DVD Review

This biopic of late Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis certainly went down well with the film critics. The majority were nearly frothing at the mouth with praise when it first came out, and it's hard not to get swept up by the hype.

It's strikingly shot (but you would expect that from renowned video director Anton Corbijn) in black and white, and its backdrop of late 1970s and early 80s England is a good one. The film flirts with Bowie, John Cooper Clark, The Buzzcocks and the Sex Pistols either through its soundtrack, appearance in the film or simply from a name check.

And then you've got Sam Riley, who really does deliver the breakthrough performance of 2007 with an intense, but deeply likeable portrayal of Curtis. Yes, his singing and dancing are eerily similar to the late singer, but this is more than Stars In Their Eyes mimicry. He mixes Curtis' self-loathing and insecurity with a naive childlike wonder and conviction that his words can make a difference. It's a staggering performance.

Despite its cutting edge credentials and edgy atmosphere, this is still a fairly by-the-numbers film biopic, and there a number of clumsy scenes (the inclusion of Love Will Tear Us Apart is particularly grating).

But the songs are great, the acting tremendous and there are lots of neat little pop culture references to spot.

DVD extras include director's commentary, making of, trailer and Corbijn's 1988 music video of Joy Division's Atmosphere.