What Do The Critics Say?

"Cinematographer Martin Ruhe's stunning black and white photography recalls the early Beatles days, Stuart Sutcliffe's doomed artist reborn in the post punk era." Laura Clifford REELING REVIEWS "Newcomer Riley is a revelation himself. He's the physical spitting image of Curtis, thin with fragile features, and his impressions of Curtis' violently jerky stage mannerisms are dead-on." Jack Mathews NEW YORK DAILY NEWS "Control goes past the clichés of punk rock-god gloom to offer a snapshot of alienation that's shockingly humane." Owen Gleiberman ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY "A film that must be seen by any true Joy Division fan, but also entertaining enough as an introduction to this influential band and its troubled singer." Edward Douglas COMINGSOON "Corbijn’s film serves as an undeniably powerful vehicle for newcomer Riley; his looks and his vocals are a dead ringer for Curtis, and the anguish he brings to bear on the last weeks of Curtis’ life is frighteningly palpable." Ken Fox TV GUIDE'S MOVIE GUIDE

"Shot in a shimmering black and white, infused with energy and romance, and anchored by newcomer Sam Riley's sensitive performance as the doomed Curtis, photographer turned director Anton Corbijn's debut feature transcends the limitations of its genre. Control is a haunting, evocative drama that stands as a fitting homage to the performer, his music, and his era." Pam Grady REEL.COM "Rock photo guru Anton Corbijn hits all the right notes in his remarkable feature-directing debut. His muse is Ian Curtis (a knockout Sam Riley), the epileptic lead singer of the Brit punk band Joy Division. Samantha Morton plays the wife who helped him fight his demons, and Tony Kebbell excels as the band manager. You don't watch this movie, you live it." Peter Travers ROLLING STONE "Throbbing with the vibrant and edgy atmosphere of the English punk rock scene of the late '70s/early '80, but vital and provocative enough to speak to audiences of today, Control simply rocks. In every way an exceptional film; this is one of those rare gems you must not miss. It's the true story of musical icon Ian Curtis." Pete Hammond MAXIM "Instead of painting a tiny, cramped picture intended only for the elite, it opens up one small corner of the world for everybody. Control is proof of the way the music of someone else's life can suddenly and magically become your own." Stephanie Zacharek SALON.COM "The script is superb, particularly in the smaller details, such as Curtis' day job at the Labour Exchange, where he tries to help people with disabilities find work. Beautifully shot, superbly directed biopic with a great script and a terrific performance from newcomer Sam Riley." Matthew Turner VIEWLONDON

The Inside Story As the seed to many a film is sowed, "Control" started ten years ago with a trip to the bookstore. When producer Orian Williams purchased "Touching From a Distance", Deborah Curtis’s biographical account of the short life of her late husband, Ian Curtis, the enigmatic and tragic lead singer of "Joy Division". The book begins with Ian Curtis’ adolescent life in Macclesfield, a small town on the outskirts of Manchester, England. Then, through Deborah Curtis’s unique first-hand perspective, it details the couple’s relationship and marriage, while accounting the history of band Joy Division. Despite only recording two studio albums in the space of three years, they very much lead the post-punk wave, influencing bands like The Smiths, U2 and later, contemporary bands like The Killers, Bloc Party and The Editors. The main intrigue of the book is its intimate insight into the tortured soul of the afflicted singer of "Joy Division". As it peels back the layers of his acute depression, guilt and his ill-heath, which ultimately led to him to commit suicide, aged only twenty three. "I bought the book in 1997, when the book came out in the States," recalls Williams. "I kept it in the car for a couple of days, and my producer friend saw it." He said, "What are you doing with this book? It would make a good movie!" With both of them being fans of "Joy Division", they suddenly had an epiphany. Williams gave him the book to investigate further, while he concentrated on producing "Shadow of the Vampire" starring John Malkovich and Willem Dafoe. Time passed, and while having breakfast with his friend, he received the book back. "It had been out of sight and out of mind, and he hadn’t even read it," says Williams (of "Touching From a Distance"). "I put it on the shelf. A couple of weeks later, a director friend of mine came by." His friend saw the book and asked, "What you doing with that book?" With renewed impetus, Williams made a few calls. It turned out a film adaptation had already been endorsed by author Deborah Curtis, but its New York-based production company had been stuck in development hell for three years with the project. To cut a long story short, the option to the book wasn’t renewed and the production company initially attached had also dissolved. After speaking to Deborah Curtis and her daughter Natalie, Williams and his production partner at the time, Todd Eckert, began an eight-month process of gaining her trust and laying out their vision for a new adaptation, which in her eyes would perhaps be the ultimate artefact of her husband’s life for future generations. With her blessing, Williams obtained the rights to her book, kick-starting a new production. Introduced to Williams by Deborah and Natalie Curtis, Tony Wilson, who had signed Joy Division to his record label Factory Records and also given them their first TV appearance, also lent his weight to the project, coming on board as a co-producer. "I wanted to make sure the film would cover all of aspects of Ian’s life," notes Williams, "and she was okay with that." Did that mean it would also cover Annik Honoré’s story. The woman whose love affair with Ian Curtis had ultimately led the disintegration of the Curtis’s marriage? An event that hardly gets a mention in Curtis's book. "Ian was very into Annik, and we wanted to very much include Annik’s life and how she played a big part in the whole story," says Williams. The whole story also included, fusing into the film, the "Joy Division" band member's side of the story; Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook and Stephen Morris, who, now, are more widely known now as the multi-million selling band "New Order". With Curtis’s agreement and approval, coupled with the backing of the "New Order" camp, the search for a suitable director began. Williams had, in 2001, emailed renowned photographer Anton Corbijn encouraging him to direct his first film and hopefully, lay the ground for the two to someday work together. Williams recalled his email saying "I think it would be a good idea if you made a movie." recalls Williams. Corbijn replied, "that he’d been thinking about a new direction in his life and that he was considering exploring new opportunities to begin a new chapter in his life." At the time Williams called, Corbijn admits "I was reading some scripts, but I didn’t know which direction I was going. I just knew I didn’t want to make a music film, as that seemed very predictable." As time passed, Corbijn got in touch announcing he would be in Los Angeles and the two should have lunch. With Williams now holding the rights to "Touching From a Distance", talk turned to the muted film project. The two met in April 2004. "We met for a two-hour lunch, and he told me his story, about him relocating from Holland to London because of Joy Division,” recalls Williams. "Then he took the iconic image of them descending down the tube station. A few months later, Ian killed himself. The photo suddenly became very important." After the lunch, Corbijn suggested that he re-read Deborah Curtis’s book. "Secretly, I wanted him to direct it, as it would have been so cool with his connection to the band," offers Williams. "I didn’t realise it was such a complete connection, until he told me his story of moving to the UK because of them." On the 6th of January 2005, during the night prior to the press conference which would announce the director for the project, Corbijn thought up the title of the film: "Control". The following day he announced where the inspiration for the title came from. "Well, it’s an obvious reference to the song 'She’s Lost Control' and I think that Ian was somebody who wanted to control his life, his immediate surroundings and his destiny. And there was of course the other element of his life that he couldn’t control, the epilepsy." Corbijn’s involvement further rubber-stamped the approval of the surviving members of "Joy Division". Who, although supporting the film, had shown a passive interest, up to that point. "The fact that Anton was on board gave them a sense of security that the film was going to be good," Williams says. Sam Riley was eventually cast in the role of Ian Curtis. "With his musical roots and physical resemblance to Ian Curtis, getting him through the door, Riley laughs, when he recalls his first audition in Manchester. "After a few minutes of going into the room, Anton asked me, 'Can I see you move?' I knew that was going to happen, because I’d seen the guy before me skip past the window, so I went to the toilet and practised in the mirror a couple of times." "They strapped an i-pod to my arm, and Anton did a little bit of the footwork to help me out," Riley remembers. After another audition, Corbijn asked Riley not to cut his hair. Months later Riley finally received the news he had been awarded the role. It was his birthday. A day he shares with Elvis Presley and David Bowie. "Control" is Sam Riley’s first lead role in a feature film. He is also the lead singer of Leeds based band, "10,000 Things". Since filming "Control" he has been busy recording the band’s second album. Samantha Morton has been hailed as one of the foremost actresses of her generation. She was cast as Deborah Curtis. Morton first came to the attention of International film audiences in 1997 with Carine Adler’s harrowing "Under the Skin". It was a role that earned her unanimous critical acclaim and the Boston Film Critics Award for Best Actress. In 1999 Woody Allen cast her as the mute Hattie in "Sweet and Lowdown" for which she received both Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for Best Supporting Actress. More recently, the actress has starred in Michael Winterbottom’s "Code 46", Jim Sheridan’s "In America" (for which she received her second Academy nomination for Best Actress) and Roger Michell’s "Enduring Love". Alexandra Maria Lara plays the other woman in Ian Curtis's life, Annik Honoré. Born on the 12th of November 1978 in Bucharest, Romania, Alexandra Maria Lara moved to Germany with her parents when she was four and half years old. After graduating from a French High School, she studied acting at the Theaterwerkstatt Charlottenburg between 1997 and 2000. In 2004 she picked up a Bambi Award after appearing in the hugely acclaimed film "Downfall" ("Der Untergang"). James Anthony Pearson was cast as Bernard Sumner. "Control" is James's first feature film appearance. His television credits include "Monarch of the Glen. Craig Parkinson was cast as Tony Wilson, the host of the TV show "Granada Reports". Parkinson's television credits include "Inspector Lynley". "Control" is Anton Corbijn’s first feature film and one of his most ambitious projects to date. A further testament to his versatile artistic career. The subjects of Ian Curtis and Joy Division are very close to Anton’s heart as the Manchester band was the reason that he moved from Holland to London to "be closer to where their music came from." As for the look of the film, the black & White images show a story set in a very English landscape but seen through European eyes. "Control" is cinematographer Martin Ruhe’s debut feature. A well established music video and commercials cinematographer, Martin has gained awards including "Best cinema commercial" and "Best TV Spot" at the ADC Awards. Previous film work includes "A Goddamn Job" and "Bonnie vs Clyde". Martin has worked on promos for "Coldplay" (directed by Anton Corbijn), "Feeder", "Busted", "The Concretes", "David Gray and The Moffats". Brands that Martin has shot commercials for include Mercedes, Adidas, Gillette, BMW and Ikea. Synopsis

1970’s Macclesfield, North-East England. Like most teenagers, Ian Curtis looks to find distraction from small-town urban life. For cheap thrills, with a friend, he helps look after old-aged pensioners and at the same time takes samples of all their prescription drugs. Broke, he fuels his main passion in life, music. Wanting to emulate his musical heroes, such as David Bowie and Iggy Pop, he joins a band, and his musical ambition begins to thrive. Soon though, the everyday fears and emotions, that fuel his music, slowly begin to eat away at him. Married young, with a daughter, he is distracted from his family commitments by a new love and the growing expectations of his band. The strain manifests itself in his health. With epilepsy adding to his guilt and depression, desperation takes hold. Surrendering to the weight on his shoulders, Ian’s tortured soul consumes him, giving him little respite.

The Verdict "There's no doubting that Sam Riley bears a remarable likeness to Ian Curtis of "Joy Division". That on it's own, does not a good film make. What makes "Control" so watchable is that it all feels real. Shooting in black and white, the settings and of course the music all achieve a distinctly raw, being there at the grass roots, feeling. Standout performances include Sam Riley, Samantha Morton, Alexandra Maria Lara, Craig Parkinson and, Toby Kebbell who plays the bands manager Rob Gretton. Despite the dark overtones, "Control" will, just as "Joy Division" did, provide a spark for those cinemagoers who grew up in the 70's. A decade which many still have fond memories of. Recommended. 4 STARS." Cast & Crew Bytes "CONTROL" stars .......
Edinburgh International Film Festival Award winner Sam Riley ["24 Hour Party People"]; Craig Parkinson ["Tooth" and "God and Dave"]; 2006 Milan International Film Festival Best Actress & 2005 Golden Camera Best German Actress Award winner Alexandra Maria Lara [" Naked", "Der Untergang", "Vom Suchen und Finden der Liebe" and "Der Fischer und seine Frau"]; Joe Anderson ["Silence Becomes You", "Becoming Jane" and "Across the Universe"]; Toby Kebbell ["Dead Man's Shoes", "Alexander" and "Match Point"] and Jean Carment Award & British Independent Film Award winner Samantha Morton ["Minority Report", "In America", "Enduring Love" and "Lassie"] as Deborah Curtis.
"CONTROL" was .......
directed by Anton Corbijn ["U2: Achtung Baby", "U2: The Best of 1990-2000" and "Metallica: The Videos 1989-2004"]; screenplay by Matt Greenhalgh [TV'S "Cold Feet" and "Queer as Folk 2"]; art direction by Philip Elton ["Event Horizon", "The Bourne Supremacy", "Kinky Boots" and "Flyboys"]; costume design by Julian Day ["Last Resort", "My Summer of Love" and "Four Last Songs"]; production design by Chris Roope ["Hold Back The Night", "Thunderpants" and "The Upside of Anger"]; edited by 2006 Milan International Film Festival Award winner Andrew Hulme ["Gangster No. 1", "The Reckoning" and "The Wrong Man"]; cinematography by Martin Ruhe ["Bonnie vs Clyde", "Die Rosenfalle" and "Jane Lloyd"]; produced by Todd Eckert ["Control"], Orian Williams ["Shadow of the Vampire" and "Tennis, Anyone...?"] and Anton Corbijn ["Control"]. Who's Who?

Sam Riley Samantha Morton Craig Parkinson Alexandra Maria Lara Joe Anderson Toby Kebbell James Anthony Pearson Harry Treadaway Andrew Sheridan Robert Shelly Matthew McNulty Ben Naylor Herbert Grönemeyer Nigel Harris Nicola Harrison Tim Plester

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Ian Curtis Deborah Curtis Tony Wilson Annik Honoré Peter Hook Rob Gretton Bernard Sumner Stephen Morris Terry Mason Twinny Nick Jackson Martin Hannett Public GP Tramp Corrine Lewis Earnest Richards

Run Time 117 minutes Rated MA15+ [AUST] Copyright ©2007 - Dendy Films - All Rights Reserved ©2007 All Rights Reserved - Protected by Australian & International Copyright. Trademark Laws Apply.