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I Reeeeally Want To See Anton Corbijn’s Joy Division Film CONTROL, And One Of Our Spies Already Has!
Hey, everyone. ”Moriarty” here.
I hope this one rocks. It’s a great story, and it was inspired to hire Anton Corbijn to direct it. I hope it pays off in something really special, and based on this spy’s reaction, that might be exactly what happened:
Hey Drew, long time AICN reader and fan. I saw a early screening of Anton Corbijn's Joy Division film "Control" in NYC yesterday.
Quick back story, my friend and I are huge Joy Division fans. Own every album/b-side/bootleg types. His girlfriend just started at NYU's film program. She got word of the early screening and invited us along. I was really interested in how Corbijn would handle the material, seeing as how he was actually around and had worked with Joy Division as a photographer and director of videos.
The theater was packed and everyone there seemed to look like a Joy Division fan (early twenties, college kids, older arty types, etc.) Some studio lady let us know that what we'd be seeing was a "work print" with the sound not entirely finished and some rough visuals. BULLSHIT. This thing was ready to screen in any art house in the US or Europe immediately. Perfect sound + visuals with no film stock troubles.
Anyways, we were also advised to stay in our seats for requisite card-filling out. More on that later.
The film starts and, well... my god.
I can't really even begin to describe how great it was. As a Joy Division fan, a hater of bio pics and a believer in black white and white cinematography, I must say, I was throughly impressed all around.
The film was accurate, respectful, and surprisingly filled with humor. The bassist and JD's manager provide a lot of comic relief. The scenes with laughs are paralleled by scenes that silenced the audience. Ian's seizures or fights between him and his wife immediately come to mind. The handling of the seizures and the subsequent medicating (through drinking and having a ill-fated affair) are all handled in a really truthful manner. Curtis was sometimes an asshole (perhaps more often than not, actually) and the film handles this in a sort of non-judgmental way, allowing the audience to see the choices that he made and come up with their own conclusions.
Much like Joy Division's music (which is used in quite and interesting way, so to parallel what is going on in Ian Curtis' relationships and state-of-mind at any given time) the cinematography is cold and icy. The same can be said for the locations, all shot in Macclesfield, apparently. (Thanks IMDB!)
The performances are are uniformly great with special attention on Sam Riley. Throughout the film, he is magnetic and really something special. I would love to know if it him singing throughout the film. If so props to him, he nailed it.
The rest of the cast is really good as well. Really spot on casting across the board.
At the end of the film, we were handed questionnaires. Hopefully the studio is not planning on making any changes, but they did ask if the film was too long or if it dragged in any specific spots, to which I responded "not at all." If anybody has ever listened to Joy Division, I wouldn't expect them to look forward to some type of Tony Scott "Domino"-style bio pic. The deliberate pacing and the decision to sometimes show a full song being played live is something a Joy Division fan would expect.
The only qualm that I had was the inclusion of a Killers Joy Division cover during the end credits. The song itself didn't sound horrible, but it just did not fit. They might has well had Hilary Duff cover "Isolation" for the end. It was that distracting.
Out of a possible five stars, I'd go with a four and a half. I have no clue as to when this film might see a domestic release, but if they were to put it out during awards season, I could definitely see some nominations going it's way.
If you used this, I'm Brian M.
Later.
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I DID IT!! YES!!!
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In your face, suckers! I'd like to thank my mom and dad, for always making me believe in myself, my wife for her support, and God, for making this possible..
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Wow, it's kind of lonely at the top. Kind of spooky being the only one here. Maybe I should actually read the article...
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"Love will tear us apart" on The Tube & they ended the show early cos it was awful? What a cock!
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To answer this review's question, yes, Sam Riley did do all of the vocals, in fact all of the actors played their instruments, since Joy Division songs are easy to pick up. I'm a huge Joy Division enthusiast since I first read The Crow in '93 (James O'Barr quotes Joy Division lyrics throughout the entire comic). I can't freaking wait for this movie. I've been watching 24 Hour Party People just to hold me over. If you're the "I want to read the book before I see the movie" types, the movie is based on his biography written by his widow, Deborah Curtis, its called "Touching From A Distance". I notice on the trailer there are some parts as described exactly in the book. Speaking of the trailer, here it is: http://tinyurl.com/28wuga
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so fucking in
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"I'm doing the best that I can."Awesome. Damn, I totally forgot this was coming out. It will be interesting to see this portrayal of Curtis as opposed to the one in 24 HOUR PARTY PEOPLE (granted that movie wasn't solely about him but the physical representation was uncanny).
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damn, how to phrase without using spoilers. How was the catalyst for the change to New Order dealt with if at all? Can't wait for this film...i have Corbijn's Directors Label DVD and it get's heavy rotation when people are just chilling, also been a Joy Division fan since Still was released back in 81 or 82...hope they don't just glaze over new Order though, excellent band in it's own right...just ask Kojima.
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To come to San Francisco along with The Joe Strummer bio. These are good times.
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...is gonna be tough to trump. That guy managed to steal a movie away from Steve Coogan - and with very little dialogue - which is no small feat. This guy is going to have to be really, really intense.
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...why isn't Corbijn also handling the cinematography?
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Hmmmm....
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Easily one of my most anticipated this year. That is all.
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The point is, if you're first, great, go have a beer and celebrate your victory of idiocy. But AT LEAST POST SOMETHING ABOUT THE ARTICLE DIPSHIT! Not once, not twice, but three times. you're an idiot and one of the growing reasons why I don't read the talkbacks or post much anymore on AICN. I think this debate is long overdue. C'mon admins, pull your heads out and listen for the pop.
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cos Im a kind of a fan (I like them, but I dont go nuts for them) and Samantha Morton-but I reckon 24 Hour Party People covered them well enough (although it was hardly a biopic!). HOWEVER!! Manchesters greatest band (and the greatest band in the history of the world ever)The Smiths have yet to have a biopic-and why not? And weirdly I dont really want one. Im just tryin to get a mention of The Smiths in the talkback. Cos theyre the class...Joy Divisons best song was Amosphere followed by Transmission. Just sayin is all.
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Jul 13, 2007 6:07:36 PM CDT
and Im kinda pissed at this whole Killers cover thing..
by rocklobster800
they are the most boring and banal of work a day bands. Even theyre name seems lazy and borin and bereft of meaning.
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Enough of these secular hagiographys that pass as biopics these days, I want something gritty and true to life. This sounds like it's going to be a great one and it's about music I actually listen to. The Smiths biography would be interesting, but I always think it's a little weird to do a biography when the band members are still alive and making music.
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Is Annik a hottie? The actress that plays debbie was the empath in Minority Report. I wouldn't leave that. And what is it with this reviewer saying "The Bassist". Hooky' the greatest post-punk bassist this side of Jah Wobble. If he's a real fan, would he say "The Bassist"? And on other important matters, does anyone actually use the right side SHIFT key on their keyboards? Just wondering.
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Shame on you Corbijn...for this reviewer is a plant.
Any "huge" Joy Division fan would refer to "the bass player" and "the Manager" as "Hooky the bass player", plain "Peter Hook", the manager as "Tony Wilson" or "That sad fat c*** Tony"...not just "the bass player" or "the manager".
I'm sure this is will be a great film but I call plant on this review. -
Hooky is the first reference to Peter Hook that anybody who knows the band would use. Also, R.I.P. to New Order for breaking up.
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like being exposed to another 5,000 people who think they love that band more than you do. Party's over.
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Maybe it's just middle-age, but I eat this kind of stuff up
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It's always Joy Division this and Joy Division that.
Nevertheless, I'm really looking forward to this movie. -
My enthusiasm blinded me. And hey rbatty024, have you read Johnny Rogan's "Morrissey and Marr: The Severed Alliance"? VERY detailed, pretty much stalker-like account of the band. Not well written but very interesting to any Smiths fan.
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Aparantly the US Cut of the movie is being rejigged for a much happer ending. As you probably know Ian Curtis committed suicide because he thought Joy Division songs were too depressing (and who can blame him). The original ending sees Ian Curtis dead at the bottom of a rope (hours before getting on a plane to New York), but the new version will see him swing (just like Bruce Willis in Sin City) out of the window, punch his miserable ex-wife in the face then run off with his fit Belgium girlfriend to the airport and fly to NYC where Joy Division go on to become the biggest band in the world, thusly killing off U2's plans for world domination. I hear there's also a scene being shot where Ian Curtis kicks U2's Bono in the bollocks and says "Fuck off you jumped up little Irish ponce, I'm the Daddy now!!!" Can't wait.
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What, ,like we see how big New Order gets compared to JD? is that happy?
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It sounds like the American distributors are planning on cutting it for you guys. Because the film is FINISHED, it is complete and has already played at Cannes (where it won the Camera d'Or). In case you think that might have been an incomplete version, the film is booked to play at the Brisbane Film Festival next month. First screening is August 3. It's highly unlikely that an unfinished film would bother playing at an Australian film festival. I also have to say with regard to the reviewer referring to 'the bassist' and 'the manager' rather than Peter Hook and Tony Wilson... I think he was trying to write his review for people who may not have heard of those individuals and who weren't familiar with the whole Joy Division saga.
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Tony Wilson was the label..
Rob Gretton was the manager for Joy Division and New Order..
if you're gonna correct people, make sure you know your own shit first.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rob_Gretton -
Agreed on everything. I could never stand Dylan's baloney. RockLobster800, a Smiths movie, in the right hands, would kill.
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You can look for supporters over here, but you're still a moron. Both Dylan and Joy Division are great. You've already made clear you don't know anything about the former, so I have to assume you're equally uninformed about the latter. (And, say what you will about ole Zimmy, at least he was never a Tory...)
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and go on to influence music forever with the release of Blue Monday. The end.
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than Joy Division? Granted, as far as pure genius and raw power, Ian and the boys have Moz's men beat. And their timing just seemed to be a bit better in the volatile late 70s. Also, I would think that we would never see a Smiths biopic while Morrissey was alive. There's still so much rancor there between those guys, I think, especially after the rhythm section lawsuit, and Morrissey, god love 'im, is probably one of the most narcissistic bastards out there, so I can't imagine he'd allow anything that questioned his polished image. Besides the fact that the existence of New Order was enough to show the longevity of the original venture and that these guys kept plugging away despite the tragedy. The real story there, though, is how young prodigy Johnny Marr, one of the most talented guitarists ever, imo, crashed and burned and never came up with anything of note post-Smiths, despite his stints with Electronic, The The, Bryan Ferry, and his own band. And yeah, 24 Hour Party People will definitely be hard to beat, especially with the use of that Atmosphere video. Can't wait for this!
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Hey Lizzy, not referring to the bass player as "Hooky" and the manager (not Tony Wilson, the original guy) by those names is not only more logical for a review that will be read by non-Joy Division fans, but the act of a non-douchebag.
Anyway, the film was great and I'm stoked to have my review up.
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