Control - Love Will Tear Us Apart

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Jonathan S. @JonathanColeSpivey Jun 14, 2026 Control (2007) is by far the best biographical depiction of an English rock band of all time. This film was neglected by the academy of motion pictures arts and science and many other recognition. Sam Riley was robbed that year at the Academy Awards but was given recognition at Cannes Film Festival and the film director Anton Corbijn was awarded several awards including Director’s Fortnight, the CICAE Art & Essai prize. The cinematography is superior to any film that 2007 and the acting is hyper real and pure genius. Sam Riley deserved Best Actor in all festivals and ceremonies and was looked over by most. I have not seen such portrayal of a rock star biography since Gary Oldman’s Sid & Nancy and by my opinion even topped Oldman’s performance of Sid Vicious. Sam Riley proves he is as genius as any of the Brit Pack and beyond. The film works because of its long takes and meditation of Ian Curtis’s intake of the sensory world. The film presents (Cole Spivey’s FB) See more Maarit L @Komedienne Jun 10, 2026 The camera work and editing clearly reflected the director’s music video background. Whether that’s a strength or a weakness is debatable. The film delivered a narrative, but it never explored its themes or characters in any real depth See more Marco L @decatur555 Dec 13, 2025 There are films you don’t simply watch, you go through them. This one moves quietly but leaves a mark. It never explains or underlines emotions, choosing instead to observe with uncomfortable closeness someone who never fully fit into the world or into himself. Shot with remarkable restraint, its black-and-white imagery feels less like an aesthetic choice and more like a way of seeing—cold, direct, honest. The portrait never forces empathy or asks for easy understanding. Creative pressure, emotional fragility, and everyday life slowly pile up, forming a silent storm. Music is present but never dominant, working more like an echo than a guide. Creation doesn’t save anyone here, and sometimes it doesn’t even help. It’s not an easy or comforting film, but it is deeply respectful and profoundly honest. See more Gigs V @RT90892322 Jan 26, 2024 If a film - something I consider PRIMARILY - to be a medium of entertainment, is hard to watch (throughout), can it really be considered...good? To give an analogy, I don't listen to music that's hard to understand or grating on the ears for... the fun of it. This IS a very well-made and well-acted film, but BE WARNED it is incredibly bleak. I also didn’t care for the fact that Ian was so unlikeable in this. After an hour (when the film got real dark), I became disinterested. Bar 'Love Will Tear Us Apart', Joy Division's music isn't my bag either and despite BEING affected by the end of the movie (and it actually lingering the day after), I can't say this is something I enjoyed. BUT, I respect the ambition (it must be really hard to tackle suicide and depression in a film). See more Richard L @KaneLives Mar 18, 2023 Although Control is beautifully shot and wonderfully acted, it fails to achieve its goal of properly portraying the main character's inner turmoil, and ends up feeling more like an impartial observer than a meaningful look into Ian's actual mind, making for a rather superficial (though undoubtedly pretty) biographical film. See more Tim S @TimBSanders Jan 14, 2023 "Control" is the adaptation of the book "Touching From A Distance" by Deborah Curtis, the widow of Joy Division's lead singer Ian Curtis who sadly killed himself in 1980 aged 23. Already depressed by his epilepsy and struggling to balance his day job in the unemployment office with that of married life and his band commitments, Ian Curtis then added an affair into the already volatile situation. What becomes clear is Ian believed he did love both women equally and feared both a loss of either of them as well as a loss of control. The troubled life of Ian Curtis was exasperated by the rise to fame of his band at a time when his epilepsy and subsequent fit attacks were intensifying coupled with his failing marriage. Sam Riley is excellent as Ian Curtis, recreating perfectly his on-stage mannerisms including his running on the spot style of dance. Samantha Morton gives a really sympathetic performance as Debbie Curtis, the girl Ian married when they were both in their teens. Joy Division quickly rose in popularity after signing to Factory Records and in 1979 released the groundbreaking album "Unknown Pleasures." Ian's depression becomes completely unbearable when he realises he is about to loose Debbie which in turn would possibly lead to his baby daughters hatred.  "Control" is the biopic of a very talented but tormented artist. Director Anton Corbijn uses grainy black and white to reflect the gloomy areas of Manchester in the 1970's and capture the feeling of the time. This stylised feel makes it easier to give a sense of Ian Curtis's decent into depression and ultimately his decision to end his life. "Control" is both sad and enlightening in equal measure. A must for any Joy Division fan. See more Read all reviews

Control - Love Will Tear Us Apart

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