Last night I was fortunate enough to catch a screening of Anton Corbijn's 'Control' (thanks to my man Mozzer on the inside).
Known to most as 'The Ian Curtis film' the movie is actually based on Deborah Curtis' book 'Touching From A Distance' and is just as much her story as Ian's. In fact Debbie (played with incredible combination of vulnerability and stamina by Samantha Morton) is central to the whole thing, and as such becomes a central figure in the history of Joy Division and New Order, if only by virtue of her life with Ian and its effect on him.
Ian and Debbie married young, and whilst the home life in Macclesfield suited Debbie, it's clear that Ian felt tethered by the link. The Cyril Connolly quote that "there is no more sombre enemy of good art than the pram in the hallway" has been thrown about in relation to Ian and the film makes you aware of that. I think it's a male thing, certainly a male dreamer's thing.
Sam Riley is iconic in the lead role, so much so that he's moved to Berlin to live with the actress who plays Annick in the film...which is weird and/or hilarious. Morton shines like the class actress she is but for me it was Toby Kebbell who stole more than a few scenes with his portrayal of manager Rob Gretton. Played by Paddy Considine in 24 Hour Party People, Kebbell (who was Anthony in Dead Man's Shoes) brings a humour to the story that reminds you that being young and in a band is actually fun.
As art the movie is breathtakingly beatiful - the decision to shoot in black and white is immediately vindicated despite the romanticising nature of it. Corbijn's photography captures the drudgery of the 70s north, but paradoxically gives it life, making the melancholy streets and landscapes more reminiscent of his later work for U2 than Lowry paintings.
Apparently there was a lot of studio wrangling over the film in regard to the final cut but I don't really see how it could be shorter - it certainly didn't need to be.
I give it a maximum 5 Spunk Ups out of 5.
Go and listen to 'Disorder' right now and spend the winter in monotone.
Control opens in the UK on Oct 5th.
