Transmission / Control

Well nothing ever happens by chance, as someone once said, although it is only this morning that I read that on 17th November 1979 Joy Division released their still amazing debut single 'Transmission', and it was on 17th November 2008 (last night) that I finally got to see Control the Anton Corbijn film on the brief life of Joy Division's singer Ian Curtis.
The film itself holds no surprises - we know the story: strange Manchester lad meets mates, forms a band, sign to Factory, issue two albums, become a cult in their own time and then in May 1980, on the eve of a US tour Curtis hangs himself and becomes even more cult.
Perhaps we do learn more about the non-musical aspects of the man - the early marriage, the jos in the Employmen Exchange the birth of daughter Natalie and affair with Belgian 'bird' Aneke (Alexandra Maria Lara), the epilepsy and panic attacks all of which contribute to Curtis' demise and ultimate suicide.
Corbijn's photography is, of course, pretty much perfect all in black and white with quite a few 'moody' shots although perhaps could've been a bit more 'grainy' in places. Excellent Sam Riley as Curtis, and full marks to the rest of the band not only for looking like the other three (see pic) but also playing a crackin' version of Transmission, among others. Very convincing also Samantha Morton as wife Deborah, whose book Touching From a Distance forms the basis of the film itself.
The best lines go of course to Rob Gretton witty, sarky band manager played by Toby Kebbel who I see won an award for best supporting actor, quite right too. The occasional reference to The Buzzcocks throughout is a nice touch and a wonderful cameo by John Cooper Clarke who looks like he was beamed straight in from 1978.
My only criticism is that Curtis' final agonising months were a little too drawn out and tend to slow down the pace of the film well before the end...you keep wondering when he is actually going to top himself....but no matter I suppose in this way we get to share Curtis' agony in part.
Excellent soundtrack of course with various JD tracks reproduced by the acting band throughout plus nice little 'incidental' period pieces, e.g. Autobahn, Jean Genie, slotted in here and there. Pity they leave The Killers version of Shadowplay till well into the closing credits when everybody has up and left...

Nice touch at the end when the surving members are sat round a pub table and they are joined by Gillian...... the rest is history.

Control's Joy Division:
l-r: James Pearson (Barney), Sam Riley (Ian Curtis), Joe Anderson (Hooky), Harry Treadaway (Steve Morris).

"shurrup Hooky and look at the camera will ya.."