Control (Anton Corbijn, 2007)

[Jeff]

The cover art for the DVD is up. It looks like the Weinsteins are using the "Miriam Collection" banner for contemporary films too. I'm disappointed that they aren't including the feature documentary, Joy Division, that played at Toronto last year. I assumed that the main reason that they bought the rights was to include it as a supplement here.

[a.khan]

I'm disappointed that they aren't including the feature documentary, Joy Division, that played at Toronto last year. I assumed that the main reason that they bought the rights was to include it as a supplement here.

Oh, they are releasing it all right; but they want you to pay for it.

[Jeff]

Oh, they are releasing it all right; but they want you to pay for it.

Figures. Maybe at least they'll eventually put the two films in a boxed set with a discounted price.

[King Prendergast]

Finally caught this one tonight and was blown away by the melancholy beauty of this film. The tone of this was handled just right. Sam Riley's performance is amazing, I look forward to seeing him in something again very sson. I'm surprised at the the paucity of response to this film. It deserves much more recognition than it has thus far received.

[Tom Hagen]

I'm surprised at the the paucity of response to this film. It deserves much more recognition than it has thus far received.

I believe this sentiment applies equally to Joy Division itself.

[Antoine Doinel]

I dunno, I think your recognition has peaked when you allow this to happen:

[domino harvey]

I see your product placement and raise you

[Antoine Doinel]

Yikes. And I thought the Kurt Cobain signature Converse were bad enough.

[Tom Hagen]

I had seen the Joy Division Zune before (and note for the record that only 500 are being made), but are those fucking shoes real? Wow. If nothing else, the iconic Unknown Pleasures cover art is getting its due.

I don't mean to say that Joy Division's reputation has languished in obscurity since 1980, or that the critical establishment has failed to recognize the band's brilliance. But I sincerely believe they were one of the greatest bands of all time, and I think it is a genuine shame that their music never reached the masses in the way that New Order or U2's did.

[miless]

They were certainly on their way. Had the American tour happened, they certainly would have raised their appreciation level on this side of the Atlantic. In a way New Order continued their trajectory, albeit in a more proto-rave way (Ian had become fascinated with Kraftwerk in his later days and had, apparently, expressed interest in heading towards an electronic-based music). It's just too bad Ian wasn't with them.

[King Prendergast]

the use of "Atmosphere" at the end has to be one of the all-time great uses of a pop song in a climatic scene in film history. Right up there with "We'll meet again" in Dr Strangelove and "Knocking on Heaven's Door" in Pat Garrett.

and speaking of Bob Dylan, how much better is Control than I'm Not There...seriously, the respective attention these two musical biopics of 2007 received is seriously skewed. Control is far superior to that film-schoolish mish mosh.

[Fletch F. Fletch]

I liked that Control took a much more respectful, tactful take on Curtis' demise as opposed to the much more irreverent take in 24 Hour Party People ("He's the Che Guevara of music."). And, obviously, Control went into much more detail about Curtis' life, his motivations, etc. I really felt like Corbijn's film tried to get into his head a little and maybe show the world from his POV. Great film.

[miless]

for some reason the two moments of the film that really stick out in my mind are also, possibly, two of the most subtle moments in the film.

The first occurs early on when Ian freezes in high school staring at an atom diagram on the chalkboard. to those unaware, this is a very accurate representation of an 'Absence Seizure' and is a very subtle way of informing the viewer of his epilepsy. although it probably just skips by most people, the scene would really have no purpose without this small detail.

the other moment is the shot of him walking down the street (the one that reveals the writing on his jacket). The moment him and the camera pause to light a cigarette is just amazing.

[filmnoir1]

This is movie is quietly effective. It captures the bleak prospects of life in the working class/industrial heart of England in the 1970s and at the same time taps into the sheer gray, drabness of the decade as a whole. The film is a text book example of why it is important that filmmakers have some knowledge of photography because nearly every shot in this film is perfect and moreover designed to look like a photograph. There is a level of visual symmetry to this work that is sadly lacking from most films today. For example in the overhead shot when Ian and one of his band members are having breakfast together after Ian has left his wife, the camera is positioned so that we can see that the plates, forks, glasses, table and even the food mirror each other. An extremely nice touch.
There are also some beautiful shots where the director uses harsh elements like the brick and power lines to compose poetic shots such as the traveling shot when Ian is shown leaving his home for work with the message on the back of his suit coat.
All the performances in this movie display a level of confidence and ease which further enhances your understanding of the story and adds to the pathos of it. The visual omission of his suicide is extremely effective and demonstrates a understanding of the idea that in many cases what we do not see is often more important than that which is shown. Without a doubt this is one of the best movies of 2007 and like 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days this film leaves you with images burned into your psyche that touch your heart and your soul.

[Antoine Doinel]

Forget a Zune or sneakers, Ian Curtis' tombstone is the ultimate fan must-have.

[MichaelB]

Did it have a Factory catalogue number?

[Jean-Luc Garbo]

I saw that posting at Pitchfork and it made me sick. Who on earth steals a tombstone? Good joke by the way, MichaelB.

[TVC15]

A 4K was just teased as part of Umbrella's April lineup.

[PfR73]

The 4K release they were teasing is Daybreakers. They're putting out a new edition of Control, but Blu-ray only.