Bloodless Coup

Control

So yesterday I finally got around to watching Anton Corbijn's Control, a film about the life of Ian Curtis, based on a book written by his widow. It's a great-looking film. Corbijn and everyone involved in the cinematography and photography did very fine work. I'm more than happy to sing its praises on that score. But as to the rest of the film ... Well, I'd say I liked the movie, for the look if nothing else. But there wasn't much in terms of plot or dialogue. Curtis lounges shirtless. Curtis marries Debbie (Samantha Morton). Curtis works in an employment agency. He joins a band (which eventually becomes Joy Division, and then New Order after his death). Curtis suffers from epilepsy. He spirals into depression and isolation as the band gets more and more successful. He has a long-lasting affair, while his wife is stuck at home with their baby. He's unhappy and eventually kills himself. Basically the film is him moping for a couple hours, with some performances by the band inserted here and there.

That might be overly critical. It's not that the screenplay is bad - but it's probably a fair bit longer than it needs to be. And while the look of the thing saved it for me, if you aren't into pretty, long black-and-white shots ...

Sam Riley received lots of praise for his work in the lead role. And I can sort of see it - he does mope well, he sings well, and he looks good shirtless. But there's not a ton for him to do, or at least not a lot of variation required of him. So while I sort of see the praise for him, I think some of it might've been a bit much in a few cases (I'm thinking in particular of Jeff Wells' rapturous comments about him on Hollywood Elsewhere). To me James Anthony Pearson is the actor who makes a mark. He didn't have a ton to do playing Bernard Sumner, but my eyes kept being drawn to him nonetheless. He did a lot with a little.