Control

The second movie I saw on the aforementioned New Year's Day trip through the cold was in the same theater and was fully intended as part of my double feature. Control is based on the true story of Ian Curtis who was the lead singer of a band called "Joy Division". The story follows Curtis from his teenage years when he first met his wife up until his death by suicide at the age of 24. In that time he joined the band "Joy Division" and they had remarkable success that culminated in an intended American tour that was to set to kick off on the eve of his death.

From his early influence from glam rockers like David Bowie to his surprisingly innocent and sweet romance with his wife (played by Samantha Morton), we as the viewers get a strong view of Curtis. We see him both in private life such as when he works at a government welfare office helping people get jobs. (Much critical comment has been made about how this subverts our expectation as we think he is going to the welfare office for dole money.) We also see his stage persona as he sings the band's songs in decently conceptualized performance scenes.

As the band's success grow, we see the increasing pressure on Curtis and the strain on him and his family. These include an extra-marital affair and the ever growing concern of his wife. The film takes its time developing these themes and characters. What immense detail it pays to Curtis is unfortunately not applied to the other band members who are essentially stock background. Still the focus on Curtis is complex and interesting.

The other refreshing aspect is that the film doesn't really seek to give answers to Curtis' suicide but rather just shows us the increasing depression. Perhaps it was the pressure of increasing performance or his disintegrating family life but equally there may have been an underlying depression as early as childhood. The film touches on all these and never tips its hand by suggesting one is more prevalent or the right answer.

Sam Riley as Curtis and Samantha Morton as Debbie (Curtis' wife) are both well cast. Morton especially in the later scenes when she is both heart broken by his actions and torn by her still persevering love for him. Riley on stage almost comatose as he sings before slowly gesturing around like crazy in the later scenes is also convincing. And his ever increasing depression is sad and poignant throughout the film.

This is a refreshing biopic which doesn't follow the formula (Ray, Walk The Line) of overcoming drugs and finding true love and the like. Not to say that either of those was a bad movie. But the fact that the story of Control requires different techniques and ends with an unanswerable poignant tragedy makes it effective in a unique way.