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Control [DVD]

Sam Riley , Samantha Morton , Anton Corbijn    Suitable for 15 years and over   DVD
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (92 customer reviews)
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Frequently Bought Together

Control [DVD] + Joy Division [DVD] + Touching From a Distance
Price For All Three: £15.39

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Product details

  • Actors: Sam Riley, Samantha Morton, Craig Parkinson, Joe Anderson, James Anthony Pearson
  • Directors: Anton Corbijn
  • Writers: Deborah Curtis, Matt Greenhalgh
  • Format: PAL
  • Language: English
  • Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Classification: 15
  • Studio: Momentum Pictures Home Ent
  • DVD Release Date: 11 Feb 2008
  • Run Time: 121 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (92 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B000VRVTCA
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,697 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)

Reviews

From Amazon.co.uk

Musicians have long proven to be a well of inspiration for film makers, and so it proves again with director Anton Corbjn’s telling of the story of Ian Curtis and Joy Division, Control.

Based on the book of the same name, the first of Control’s many successes is to make prior knowledge of the subject matter unnecessary. And while music is an important part of the film, the movie ultimately focuses in on the relationship between Curtis and his wife, Deborah. It’s a moving and emotional rollercoaster, and one realised with exceptional skill and grace by Sam Riley and the ever-astonishing Samantha Morton in the lead acting roles. The former is someone very much to watch, the latter is surely long overdue an Oscar.

Credit too must go to director Corbjn, though, who builds up Control with diligence and discipline. He shapes a musical biopic that distinguishes itself from its numerous contemporaries, and while it perhaps doesn’t spend enough time with the Joy Division side of the story, it’s a film that’s otherwise hard to fault.

Control, ultimately, not only managed to sidestep many of the contrivances of the genre, but it also offers a raw, electric and emotional experience, and proved to be one of 2007’s finest films. Don’t miss it. --Jon Foster

Product Description

Biopic of Joy Division singer Ian Curtis. Directed by photographer Anton Corbijn, who took some of Joy Division's most iconic pictures, this film is inspired by the book 'Touching From A Distance' written by Curtis' widow, Deborah, who is played here by Samantha Morton. It tells the story of how Curtis (Sam Riley), married to Deborah at a young age, becomes distracted from his marriage by the growing success of his band and his burgeoning attraction towards Belgian journalist, Annik Honore. His battle with epilepsy adds to his feelings of despair until he eventually takes his own life on the eve of Joy Division's first American tour. Filmed in black and white, the film captures the time and the place with cool precision.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
95 of 101 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Haunting, Stark, Beautiful, A Classic..... 16 Oct 2007
Format:DVD
I've now seen this story played out 3 times, twice at the cinema in the last 2 days and once as a 15 year old Northern lad. In the true spirit of the "Kitchen Sink" genre, it begins like a modern day "A kind of loving" and has a touch of " Room at the top" (the wedding car scene). Sam Riley is outstanding, portraying Curtis in a way that does not show him as the icon he became posthumously but as a somewhat immature 20+ year old man. This of course is countered by a soundtrack that reminds us of his musical genius played by the actors in a very authentic "Garagey way". A portrait of a man torn between his old and new life complicated by the onset of an illness he was struggling to come to terms with.

If that wasn't enough the photography is glorious, every other shot could be hung on the wall, it never looked so good when I was a lad! I understand that Corbijn was trying to shoot the film like a sequence of music videos and with his massive experience as a still photographer it all works beautifully. He sank a large amount of his own money into this project, and you can tell that making it was important to him as a fan and aquaintance of the band You can see his passion and committment to the film throughout. The sequence in the kitchen towards the end of the film was electric, an incredibly haunting dramatic shot. This Film demands the biggest screen that you can find.

I read a review that said you don't watch this film you live it, the first time I saw Control I was angry at the futility of it all, the second I wept tears for lost youth, his and mine. My advice ? Get yourself a really big telly and a really big box of tissues and enjoy what must be considered the best music film of all time. There's no getting away from the end, like Ian's all too short life it comes too soon in this film and there ain't gonna be a sequel, but buy the DVD and enjoy watching it over and over again. A Classic........
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40 of 43 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars A Film of Intense and Tragic Beauty 22 Nov 2007
Format:DVD
Having read and in many cases re-read the majority of books written about Ian Curtis and Joy Division, while living with the music for approaching 30 years the anticipation surrounding the release of "Control" almost became a living and breathing obsession.

I was lucky enough to see Joy Division in Glasgow and remember being transfixed by the presence and intensity of Ian Curtis; it was just the once and fleeting but even now, after all these years, that feeling of witnessing something special and unique still lingers.

As a result I approached Control with a preconception of what the story should tell us and what / who the characters were and how they should be portrayed.

Dealing with the negatives first, for the sake of brevity a lot of the key musical moments were either ignored or given passing reference, i.e. the recording and issue of Unknown Pleasures and the significance of the Closer lyrics as an insight into Ian's state of mind leading up to the 18th May 1980.

That however is the only negative and given the emphasis on the story on the triangle of Ian, Deborah and Annick it was the correct decision. My complaint, such as it is, is probably because I'm a bit of an anorak where Joy Division is concerned and would have liked the film to be longer, totally selfish and impractical.

Sam Riley and Samantha Morton are simply awesome; I was gripped from the outset and immediately put aside my preconceptions and ended up being swept along by the story, the cast (who were all outstanding) and the cinematography, all credit to Anton Corbijn.

The closing scenes were simply overwhelming and I don't have the words to capture the impact it had on me.

This is a film for all; a film for people who can appreciate a story lovingly and painstakingly constructed, or should that be re-constructed; a film for people who wish to be challenged and reflect on their own lives; above all it is a film for music fans and fans of Joy Division in particular.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars quietly moving. 20 April 2008
Format:DVD
ive never been a fan of joy division, but now i see what all the hype is about! the movie is a piece of art! the black and white style of the film gave this the gritty northern feel it needed. you can really understand sam riley's character and sympathise with his sense of isolation and the way he sees the world. At the start of the film it shows you his fascination with artists like bowie and roxy music, and the book 'crash' by jg ballard. its clear this young man spent lots of time alone in his youth and lived his world around fantasy. you see how when the reality of a ababy and a wife and the general mundaneness of life hits him its a massive shock. Samantha Morton is outstanding at playing the earthy working class wife. even though he's (ian curtis) is basically committing adultery, you can understand why. In this film you like all the characters and you don't seem to blame anyone. A really thought provoking movie that gets you thinking 'what's it all about' and how human beings are very vulnerable. you can appreciate the downward spiral he encountered and the way he was ill equipped for dealing with lifes realities. basically he was a very sensetive man and a bit of a hopeless romantic. a sad loss, but he made his mark.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars Definitely in the driving seat
This is a great film that not only expresses a bleak situation (unemployment, mental illness, and a disintegrating marriage) with tenderness and care, but also looks at the... Read more
Published 1 month ago by M. Adil-smith
5.0 out of 5 stars Very moving
Really good DVD, did it for media a level. It's a very moving story, would reccommend to people who enjoy real life drama
Published 1 month ago by Thanks
5.0 out of 5 stars Winner of Camera d'Or Award at the Cannes Film Festival
In my opinion, it is one of the top 10 British films to be released during the last five years. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Published 2 months ago by Paul Townsend
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant!
This movie is one of the best ever made. So deep, touching and sad. The main actor Sam Riley probably does the role of his life. 5 stars without a doubt.
Published 2 months ago by Fiore
5.0 out of 5 stars control
control is based on the life of English Music Icon Ian Curtis who took hes own life aged just 23 in May 1980. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Alawes
5.0 out of 5 stars ...
Probably one of the most recommendable films for anyone who wants to learn about the lives of musicians who battle with depression. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars EPIC!
Epic performance from Sam Riley, he almost makes a better, Curtis, than Curtis himself! Fills in a lot of gaps that are raised from the likes of 24 Hour Party People, etc... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Levi Stone
4.0 out of 5 stars Control
It was very interesting and in quite a lot of ways moving and opened me up to a whole new level of music. It was brilliant acting!
Published 5 months ago by Elly
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
Great film & great band. A different view of the same story as told in "24 Hour Party People". Highly recommended.
Published 5 months ago by Bazztd
4.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant Film!!
I have watched this film several times now, and it gets better with each viewing. Sam Riley is superb as the troubled, often haunted, Ian Curtis right down to the way he looks. Read more
Published 6 months ago by perry52
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