Control

Anton Corbijn’s acclaimed biography of Joy Division’s doomed singer Ian Curtis, played by Sam Riley, with Samantha Morton as his wife Debbie. At first confident and happy, Curtis’s diagnosis with epilepsy and the ensuing medication lead him into depression, as he alienates friends, family and Debbie, leading to a series of events that culminates in his suicide. The film, co-produced by Debbie Morton, gets into the singer’s head and is not afraid to confront the man he became, while at the same time maintaining his wit and credibility., A profile of Ian Curtis, the enigmatic singer of Joy Division whose personal, professional, and romantic troubles led him to commit suicide at the age of 23., Sam Riley’s extraordinary portrayal of doomed punk-rocker Ian Curtis, lead singer of the 1970s British band Joy Division, keys this absorbing rock-music biopic. Samantha Morton is excellent as Curtis’s long-suffering wife, Deborah, and it’s her memoir, “Touching From a Distance,” that forms the basis for Matt Greenhalgh’s involving screenplay. Joe Anderson, James Anthony Pearson and Harry Treadaway costar as the other members of the band. Directed by Anton Corbijn., Absorbing rock-music biopic about the tragic life of Ian Curtis, lead singer of 1970s British punk-rockers Joy Division., Prolific music-video helmer and award-winning photographer Anton Corbijn makes his feature directorial debut with this biographical drama concerning the late Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis. Based on the book Touching from a Distance: Ian Curtis & Joy Division by the enigmatic singer’s wife Deborah Curtis, Control documents the life of a legend who changed the face of modern music but never lived to witness the remarkable impact of his life’s work. The time was the late 1970s, and the post-punk explosion was just gaining momentum in England. At the forefront of this movement was a band named Joy Division. Formed in 1976 and first calling themselves Warsaw, Joy Division favored mood and expression over the aggressive stance that had come to define punk rock. The band was championed by Factory Records founder Tony Wilson, and collaborated with producer Martin Hannett on the album that would become their undisputed masterpiece — 1979’s Unknown Pleasures. But despite the band’s rising popularity, lead singer Curtis was not in good mental or physical health due a debilitating battle with epilepsy and an extramarital affair, and hanged himself in his Macclesfield home on the eve of the band’s first U.S. tour. Newcomer Sam Riley stars opposite Samantha Morton in the film that sets out to tell the definitive story of a true rock & roll legend., Anton Corbijn’s acclaimed biography of Joy Division’s doomed singer Ian Curtis, played by Sam Riley, with Samantha Morton as his wife Debbie. At first confident and happy, Curtis’s diagnosis with epilepsy and the ensuing medication lead him into depression, as he alienates friends, family and Debbie, culminating in his suicide. The film, co-produced by Debbie Morton, gets into Ian’s head and is not afraid to confront the man he became, while at the same time maintaining his wit and credibility.