Control - B+

On DVD (2007). Rated R, 121 minutes. Trailer.

Rock and roll rags to riches stories tend to provide an intriguing story arc and drama, and Control is no exception. This beautiful black and white film (directed by Anton Corbijn) tells the classic story of talented but fragile Joy Division lead singer Ian Curtis. Joy Division was a band that got its start in that musical magicland Manchester, England, and rose to prominence in England before tragedy ended the band (whose surviving members later found success as New Order). Every frame of this film is striking and abstract in black and white. Click below for more on Control:

The film opens during Ian's high school years in Manchester, with his confidence and distance as the centerpiece to his personality. As the band begins to take shape, he falls in love and marries Deborah while they are both teenagers. Curtis' leadership and aggression get them down the path to stardom, and as they are climbing the ladder he begins having epileptic seizures. He receives rudimentary treatment for them, has a child, and falls in love with another woman all in a very short time span. His inability to cope with these competing issues puts the band under great stress and put him in an increasingly fragile state.

Ian Curtis is portrayed brilliantly by Sam Riley, with Samantha Morton predictably good as Curtis' true love and deserted wife. The remaining cast does a good, but not remarkable job. The director and art director are the stars of the show on this film. I loved the way the film was shot, with lots of space in every frame, usually with Ian to the side of the room.

The story has all the markings of a VH1 Behind the Music, with the humble beginnings, rise to fame, wife left behind and new girlfriend, but the filmmakers steer clear of any cliches or fun but useless scenes. The rise of the band is not directly address or central to the film, rather, it is shown subtly through magazines or other items that you can see in the background of certain scenes. While I usually can't stand long musical interludes in film, the concert performances are riveting, due mostly to Riley's channeling of Curtis' intensity and odd dancing style.

A very good film. Joy Division's biggest hit was "Love Will Tear Us Apart".