Control, lost and gained

At the end of last year, I wanted to do a huge post of the black-and-white explosion in cinema that happened in '07, a trend that I'm pretty sure has still gone neglected (I never got around to that post, though -- I guess I was too busy, what with Céline Dion under my microscope). It's not just that there were a lot of black and white movies last year -- it's that most of them were fucking awesome. Among them: Perspolis, Guy Maddin's Brand Upon the Brain! (technically '06, says IMDb, although it didn't really play America till last year, when it toured complete with an orchestra, celebrity narration, a castrato and live foley sound effects), Killer of Sheep (a 30+ year-old bit of brilliance that didn't see official release till last year), I'm Not There, in part (and, my opinion, the b&w parts were the only ones worth watching), and Frank Darabont's preferred cut of The Mist. [ETA: Oh yeah, Lake of Fire, too!] But my favorite black-and-white flick of '07 and possibly of all time is Control, Anton Corbijn's biopic of the tortured Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis, which was released on DVD last week. I didn't care that much about Joy Division's music going into Control (though I do intensely love a few of the obvious New Order songs), and I wouldn't say that the movie turned me into a fan or anything. But maybe that's the point: Corbijn has said that he didn't want to make a movie about a band, just a man who was in one.

Humanizing it is, but Control is so much more than that. I know it'll sound hyperbolic, but this thing is moving art. Going in, I had no idea that Corbijn was a photographer (who shot Joy Division back in the day, even!) but once I found out, it made total sense: virtually every set-up in this movie looks like a gorgeously composed photograph. I know very little about photography (check any of the hundreds of point-and-click shots I've posted on this blog and you'll see my ignorance blurred all over the place), but from what I understand, black-and-white is often considered "easy": it isn't as hard to get stuff to look good and arty (I guess) when you're using black-and-white film. To Corbijn's credit, the decision to go b&w wasn't one of vanity, but, as he's explained repeatedly, one of tribute: most of the iconic photography and footage of Joy Division (and when the frontman of your maudlin band kills himself at 23, pretty much every artifact you've left behind becomes iconic) was indeed in black and white. And anyway, the shots wouldn't work nearly as well as moving pictures if not for the fluid performance of Sam Riley. He certainly embodies Ian Curtis, but what's most impressive is how he meshes with Corbijn's aesthetic - he is never less than entirely photogenic. (Samantha Morton's thankless performance isn't as graceful, but it's not supposed to be, either.) I wouldn't be surprised if no other director ever gets a performance from him that's this layered and breathtaking -- Riley may be sentenced to working with Corbijn for life. I hope so, at least.

It's not until the third act that you really get a sense of Curtis' desperation and misery (if the whole movie were so heavy, it wouldn't be nearly as watchable). Leading up to that, it's only brief moments that suggest spiraling downward, the loss of control of his body (Curtis was epileptic) and his emotions. I've caught some of that below -- a slew of screenshots of the images that hit me the hardest are after the jump. They aren't really spoilery (I mean, duh, he kills himself!), but if you haven't seen Control, pretend that they are and get your ass on Netflix. Seriously, go now.

(Click to enlarge)

               

Comments

[krup]

this and "the diving bell and the butterfly" were my two favorites from last year -- both directed by artists who became famous first in another medium

[laylaness]

Corbijn is amazing. The screencaps you show here really remind me of his video for U2's "One".

This is how Joy Division should be portrayed, not as in 24-Hour Party People. That was god-awful.

[Clarity Sage]

My boyfriend just bought the dvd and is expecting it in the mail any day now (hopefully today). He became a huge Joy Division fan after I played the Killers' "Shadowplay" for him. There are many steps in between of course. I didn't share his growing obsession, but I am still looking forward to seeing the movie. Movies made by great photographers are always fascinating to watch and dissect. Those are really nice screen captures.

[kelly]

This film is the only one that made me sob last year. Heartbreaking, emotional, and shot in a gritty beautiful way.

Anton Corbijn is one of my favorite photographers, and when I heard about this film yesterday on NPR, I made a mental note to put it on my Netflix queue when I got home. Sure enough, it slipped my mind-- so thank you for the reminder!
Jules
House of Jules

[nado]

The trailer made me so teary, the music and imagery haunts me! how will i survive the whole film? i wonder how true to life it is seeing as it's based on Deborah Curtis's book. Then again, how 'actual' can any biopic be? Torn between a childhood sweetheart and a soul mate, harsh.

[Laura @ Hungry and Frozen]

Thanks for the stunning screencaps...nice to see something other than the one or two promotional pictures I saw in every magazine. You're right, the photographer in Corbijn really shows through. Wish I saw this in the cinema when I had the chance.

[Annegret]

I was obsessed with Joy Division back in the early 90s (having come to them backwards through New Order). Then I read the book this film is based on, which immediately shattered the mythos of Ian Curtis (that I guess existed only inside my head). Some things should remain a mystery, I suppose. I liked him a lot less after that book. Still, I've been meaning to see this movie, particularly after viewing that mess "24 Hours Part People".

[Jess]

Thank you so much for this post. I work in a small-town video store and I'm pretty sure I am the only person that has watched this movie, with the exception of a couple friends of mine who seemed less than impressed. I was (and am) so moved by this movie, it is breathtaking, tragic, and truly lovely. Aside from the infidelity, I could marry Sam Riley's Ian Curtis - so amazing, and I related so much to his introspection, though yes, he is a bit maudlin.

Thank you for the gorgeous screen captures - I'm dying for the poster but it's $20 everywhere I've looked!

Oh, and for the person that asked how closely it followed Deborah Curtis' book, I would say pretty closely, I believe she did co-produced the film.

Thanks again Rich - I've been a long-time lurker of both you and Tracie, but I couldn't let this post go by without a comment.

[Karen]

Oh bless you!

Joy Division is one of my favorite bands. And yet I let myself miss the film when it played for a week down the street from my house. I'm DUMB. But, the theater that was showing it has the worlds worse sound system... that's my defense.

So, it's coming on Net Flix tomorrow and I will make a weekend of it. and have myself a good sob. The likes of which have not been seen since the premiere of @4 Hour party People.

[Karen]

I mean 24 Hour Party People, which, unlike the fellow commenters, I adored.

[Molly]

angst angst angst

masculine angst

[sarah]

that last shot, with smoke billowing into the sky, was perfect. i just sat there unable to move.

[Alicia]

At least the actor in "24 Hour Party People" actually LOOKED like Ian. Sam Riley looks like Pete Doherty.

I didn't care much for this film because I don't think Ian Curtis was a terribly interesting guy. I'd rather see a movie about Peter Hook or Bernard Sumner any day.

[Jill]

As far as Anton Corbijn goes, he did/does some amazing work for Depeche Mode as well (both video & still photography). Check out the videos from the Violator album, which are really beautifully done.

[Kenna]

Rich, I'm thrilled to read your post. B&W film is so evocative. The time period, the location and Joy Division were portrayed perfectly in B&W(imo). I'm going to forward your post to an old friend who's one of the producers of the film. That is, if you don't mind?

[Nicolars]

It's a bit eerie how many screenshots from the movie are almost exact replicas of the original photos Corbijn shot of Joy Division.

[Alex]

Angel-A is another pretty awesome b&w flick (technically from '07), imo.

[Lara]

I just wanted to share that I got to see a live screening of "Brand upon the Brain" with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, a 3 piece Foley crew from Japan, and motherfucking ISABELLA ROSSELLINI doing the narration.

It was one of the highlights of my life - seriously magical.

[Al]

These are gorgeous.

[Zoë]

Hello!
This is way after-the-fact and kind of random, but I thought I'd make a note. Per your review, I rented, watched, and fully enjoyed "King of Kong." I generally love and agree with your taste in films (especially documentaries), so I thought I'd make a recommendation to you. Have you seen the documentary "Darkon?" It follows the lives, real and fantasy, of live-action-roleplayers in Maryland. Like "King of Kong," it's highly entertaining, oftentimes touching, and a sadly under-acclaimed documentary. I love docs that follow marginalized sub-cultures and thought you might be interested. If you've seen it, please disregard this!
Best,
Zoë

[mfg]

You rock SO hard for covering this film!
I actually didn't quite get "24 Hour Party People" until I read Tony Wilson's book, so now I'm fond of it (the unparalleled idealism of Factory Records). But I will never like that Ian Curtis actor, all gangly and strangely wrong.
I think anyone who wrote such songs HAD to be interesting, even if he was often a jerk.
But, yeah, I'd love to see a movie about Hooky AND Barney (again, writing such amazing songs).

[Sarah]

I wrote Ian Curtis' IMDB biography after reading the book written by his wife. At 15 I loved basically any rock 'n' roll suicide but especially Joy Division because the music leaves you with a deep and penetrating hatred of everything and everybody. Probably the most depressing band ever.

I've fallen out of touch with the world of the hip and cool because I basically only listen to metal nowadays (go ahead, make fun of me) so I REALLY appreciate this post and I'll definitely pick up the film. I'll probably cry as I remember the joys of slashing my teenage wrists and reading Sarte, Camus, and rock biographies in the highschool hallways while glaring everyone with an "I'm better than you peasants and yet I'm tortured" disgusted look on my face.

[Lia]

Great post, Rich. I really felt very similar about the film. I kept telling friends that no, it's not a movie about Joy Division, it's about a guy who just so happened to be in Joy Division. Though, I loved the fact that the guys learned to play the songs and they sounded great. Anyways, my favorite thing about this film was that it really covered how it feels to truly be in love with two different people, and for completely different reasons. The scene where he and his wife have it out about Annik was so painful to watch, especially when she leaves the room and he is left alone to ponder what just went down. In fact, you SS'd it: http://fourfour.typepad.com/fourfour/images/2008/06/11/control_movie_38.jpg. Amazing stuff.