Control: Review By AnnoyingFilmCritic

Beautiful melancholy is an oxymoron. "Control" is the filmic contradiction in terms that long resonates afterwards.

Most members on this site are probably too young to remember the Great 80's rock band, Joy Division. They were a rapidly rising band in England on the brink of major crossover success in America. This seminal British band only released two albums/CDs before their lead singer, Ian Curtis, afflicted with deep depression, a dissolving marriage, diagnosed epilepsy and rigors of newfound fame (a' la Kurt Cobain of Nirvana), committed suicide at the young age of 23.

Every acting performance is pitch perfect; from the jilted former manager to Sam Riley, in a tour de force portrayal as Ian Curtis, the doomed lead singer. New actor, Riley, renders Ian's arc of rise and fall so amazingly that you can forget at times that you are watching a movie, not the tragic singer's demise. Samantha Morton (Minority Report) plays his abandoned wife and new mother, Debbie, with visceral wallop as well. The movie, for the most part, plays out like an extended reality show in its verity.

The black and white cinematography adds to the compounding drama of unrequited love and cusp of mainstream success that forebodes the ramp up. My only complaint with the direction, is that there should have been more tight reaction shots in a few pivotal scenes to display better the excellent acting of Riley and Morton.

The haunting Joy Division soundtrack intensifies this darkening drama of dashed prodigious promise and myopic youth. Their highest, record charting song, "Love Will Tear Us Apart," is majestic...and maybe my favorite song. Go to ITunes or your nearest department store and check it out. It's indelible.

Control is easily one of the best musician biographical movies ever. Right next to 'Walk the Line," of the legendary Johnny Cash. It's one of those thought provoking movies that pops in your head time to time at anytime because good movies seep into your perceived Control.