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Control
2007 121 min Australia, United Kingdom, United States of America R 18+
★7.9
Drama
Director: Anton Corbijn
📖 Based on the novel
«Touching from a Distance»
byIan Curtis
Trailers
Description
The story of Joy Division’s lead singer Ian Curtis, from his schoolboy days in 1973 to his suicide on the eve of the band's first American tour in 1980.
Budget:
$5M
US Gross:
$872,252
Worldwide:
$8.2M
Starring
Sam Riley
Actor
Samantha Morton
Actor
Craig Parkinson
Actor
Awards
Cannes Film Festival 2007
— Caméra d'Or – Special Mention
BAFTA 2008
— Carl Foreman Award for Most Promising Newcomer
BAFTA 2008
— Best Supporting Actress
BAFTA 2008
— Best British Film
Key opinion
Control is widely celebrated as an atmospheric and visually striking biopic that captures the tragic essence of Ian Curtis through a restrained, monochrome lens. While fans and critics admire its authentic performances and aesthetic, some viewers find the narrative pacing too static and the psychological exploration of Curtis’s life overly narrow.
| Acting | Sam Riley delivers a compelling and authentic performance that captures the essence of Ian Curtis's mannerisms and vocal style. | |
| Cinematography | Anton Corbijn’s decision to shoot in stark black-and-white creates a powerful, immersive atmosphere that mirrors the band's post-punk sound. | |
| Originality | The film succeeds as a respectful, grounded tribute that avoids the sensationalism and tropes common in conventional music biopics. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay, based on Deborah Curtis's memoirs, is praised for its factual grounding, yet criticized for being too narrow and failing to explore the depth of Ian Curtis's creative or spiritual life. | |
| Pacing | The film’s deliberate, contemplative pacing serves to build a mood of inevitable tragedy for some, while others find the experience static, lacking in dynamism, and emotionally detached. |