Control - Review * * * *

Control is a beautifully shot monochrome film depicting the life of Joy Division singer Ian Curtis. Viewing it in the sumptuous surroundings of the Electric Cinema on Portobello Road added an even more striking contrast to the bleakness of life in Macclesfield for the young Ian Curtis. A moving and haunting film sprinkled with flashes of great comedy mainly delivered by Joy Division’s caustic manager Rob Gretton, played by a fabulous Toby Kebbell.

Although Curtis lived a very short life (he committed suicide at 23) the film packs a lot into the intense 121 minute running time. My highlights included Sam Riley’s spot on mimic of Curtis’ infamous on stage jerky, running arms dancing. His pathos drenched depiction of Curtis’ descent into mental breakdown brought on by the anguish which engulfs him following his infidelity with Belgium journalist Annik Honore and his frightening epilepsy diagnosis are beautiful. The film left me spellbound and no surprise with such a brilliant cast.

Samantha Morton’s performance as Deborah, Curtis’ troubled wife was nothing less than you’d expect from the great actress. Her heartbreak crushes you, when she stumbles upon Annik’s number on one of Curtis’ records you feel the knot of heartbreak in your chest just as she did. When she confronts Curtis he is numbed with silence, and her screams of frustration are gut wrenching.

Corbijn is the master of imagery and the scene where the dryer rope is being pulled and finally snags is particularly fraught. Curtis’ final hours could possibly have been built up with more angst for the viewer but maybe that’s just because I already knew what the ending was going to be.

The parting shot of black smoke pouring from the crematorium and filling the Macclesfield skyline is stunning and strangely left me leaving the viewing with a sense of faith and hope. We all struggle with the life we lead and the life we want but somehow most of us manage to cope and move forward. For Curtis the distinction and choices laid out before him where just too difficult to comprehend.