A Movie About 'Ian Curtis'!!!

ExitEuXa · Post by **ExitEuXa** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 10:55 am

Sure to excite (or enrage) many a disaffected, morose fan, filming for 'Control', the long awaited movie about Joy Division's late frontman, Ian Curtis, began this week. Directed by veteran music video director and photographer 'Anton Corbijn', the film focuses on the tumultuous last years of Curtis' life before he commited suicide in 1980, at the age of 23 and shortly before the band was to depart for its first American tour.

Control deals with Curtis' romantic conflicts with his wife, Deborah, and his mistress, Annik Honore, his increasingly dibilating epileptic seizures, and his performance with 'Joy Division'. Filming will take place in the in The English towns of Nottingham and Macclesfield (where Curtis lived and nw is buried). The film will be released in the UK by Momentum Pictures sometime in 2007.

The film is based upon and expands on the 1995 book 'Touching From a Distance written by Curtis' widow as a personal account of her life with the singer. Deborah Curtis serves as a co-producer on the film as well, alo,g with Factory Records founder Tony Wilson. Matt Greenhalg wrote the script for Control, talking to those closest to Curtis, including Honore, who previuosly remained silent on her relationship with him.

Sam Riley, who played Mark E. Smith in '24 Hour Party People', stars as Curtis, Acadamy Award-nominated actress Samantha Morton plays Deborah Curtis, Alexandra Maria Lara is Honore, James Anthony Pearson is Joy Division/New Order guitarist Bernard Sumner, Joe Anderson is bassist Peter Hook, Harry Treadaway is drummer Stephen Morris, TOny Kebbel is Factory Records partner and Joy Division manager Rob Gretton, and Craig Parkinson is Tony Wilson.

Longtime fan Corbijn has his own history with Joy Division. In 1979, he moved from Holland to The UK to photograph the band, resulting in this now-familiar image. He directed the posthumous video for "Atmosphere" in 1998. In a press release, Corbijn said, "If I only ever make one movie, CONTROL would have to be that. I simply feel that as Joy Division and Ian Curtis played a big part in my life, I cannot think of a better combination of subject and director."

But what's a film like this without a killer of a soundtrack? Not to worry, that will be more than taken care of. The soundtrack will include original tracks recorded by Warsaw ( the band's previous incarnation before becoming Joy Division) and Joy Division from the late '70s and early'80s. New Order will compose the score for the film. Other featured acts on the soundtrack are David Bowie, Iggy Pop, Roxy Music, Lou Reed and The Buzzcocks.

I can't wait for that movie.

A_Northern_Soul · Post by **A_Northern_Soul** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 11:45 am

I heard a rumour that there was another Joy Division/Ian Curtis biopic in production too. This one sounds like it'll be the "official" one though. Should be good.

And Samantha Morton in ANYTHING is OK by me!

ExitEuXa · Post by **ExitEuXa** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 11:51 am

A_Northern_Soul wrote:I heard a rumour that there was another Joy Division/Ian Curtis biopic in production too. This one sounds like it'll be the "official" one though. Should be good.

And Samantha Morton in ANYTHING is OK by me!

Yep it's official now "CONTROL" is the one, i'm very curious because Joy Divison is one of my favourite bands ever! I read the book his wife wrote 'Touching From a Distance' just last year. The only in-depth biography about Joy Division ever been written.

steve-o · Post by **steve-o** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 4:40 pm

yeah this should be a good watch, looking forward to it as well.

niknak · Post by **niknak** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 9:00 am

Should be good if they get it right. I really liked 24 Hour Party People, though this will be a very different film in tone i think. But they got the whole scene bang on in that film, so i hope this one does justice to it too. Joy Division are probably in my top five fave bands, though i'm not sure exactly where.

ExitEuXa · Post by **ExitEuXa** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 2:08 pm

Fans of Ian Curtis are set to get the chance to appear in the new biopic about the Joy Division front man.

The makers of Control are searching for people to appear in crowd scenes for the movie that is shooting around the country this summer.

The scenes are being shot in Nottingham and Manchester during the rest of July and August with hundreds of extras being needed according to the BBC.

To get you chance to appear in the film simply email controlfilm@leftlion.co.uk for more details.

I'll take my chances.

ExitEuXa · Post by **ExitEuXa** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 12:25 pm

Update on the movie:

THE filming of Control the movie of Joy Divisions tragic frontman Ian Curtis has left his former band mates with some mixed emotions.
After Ians suicide in 1980, aged just 23, Joy Division famously went on to become New Order and the band have given their full backing to the movie of Ians life currently being made by renowned music director Anton Corbijn.

But when cast and crew invited the band to come and watch the filming, on location in Ians hometown of Macclesfield, it left them in a bit of a dilemma.

New Orders bassist Peter Hook tells me: We were invited down when they were filming at Ians house. But it just freaked me out. I couldnt even contemplate going down there.

I know a lot of New Order and Joy Division fans went out to watch the filming, but its something I just couldnt do. It would bring back too many memories.

Meanwhile New Order drummer Stephen Morris says seeing photos from the film set was a weird experience.
When I saw the pictures it was a bit weird, I got a sort of creepy feeling, especially when you see Ians house, Stephen tells me.
We met up with all the stars from the film at a gig of ours in July, and they invited us down to filming, but I think it would have been a bit strange for all of us.

New Order are to write the soundtrack for the new film and will record for the first time in 30 years as Joy Division once again. And theyve been helping out with some authentic details for the production.
They are using my guitars in the film which Im quite pleased about, says Peter.

And Ive given them the coat that I always used to wear in Joy Division unfortunately it doesnt fit me anymore.

Actor Joe Anderson plays Peter in the film, but the bassist says he wont be imparting any advice on how to play him.

It didnt interest me when Ralf Little did it [for 24 Hour Party People], so Im not that bothered now either. To be honest, I cant remember myself at that point in time.

The only thing Im upset about is that my son Jack is just a couple of years too young to have played me in the film.

He doesnt half look like me, its quite uncanny, he mused.

IanRedpoint · Post by **IanRedpoint** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 7:01 pm

Andy (other half of Redpoint) was on set yesterday. They were filming a gig scene. One where Ian Curtis has a fit mid-song. Damn impressive apparently. The band look and sound fantastic. After speaking to him I'm really excited about this now.

ExitEuXa · Post by **ExitEuXa** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 6:42 pm

oops forgot to post this.

The case that will represent Joy Division is now complete, according to the Internet Movie Database, the case will be the following:

Sam Riley as Ian Curtis
James Pearson as Bernard Sumner
Joe Anderson as Peter Hook
Harry Treadaway as Stephen Morris

Cast also include Oscar nominee Samantha Morton and Alexandra Maria Lara.

IanRedpoint · Post by **IanRedpoint** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 10:39 pm

Just seen a press screening of this.

Stunning, simply stunning. Sam Riley is uncannily close to Ian Curtis in voice, looks and mannerisms. The four of them make a *very* convincing Joy Division, certainly in sound. All the live footage is the four actors playing rather than miming. All the better for it too. Samantha Morton is also excellent as Ian Curtis' wife Debbie.

Anton Corbijn does a great job as a first-time director (of feature films anyway). My friend rightly pointed out that you could take almost any frame from the film and blow it up into a poster. Shot entirely in black and white, it looks fantastic. Starkly beautiful.

Great script too. Full of Mancunian humour, neatly offset by Ian's lyrics.

Comes out in the UK on October 5th.

Infinite E · Post by **Infinite E** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 2:55 am

really looking forward to this. does it get a general release do you know?

IanRedpoint · Post by **IanRedpoint** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 7:08 am

Infinite E wrote:really looking forward to this. does it get a general release do you know?

Should do in October. It won Best European Film in the Directors Fortnight at Cannes, so hopefully will be high enough profile to make it to a lot of screens.

A_Northern_Soul · Post by **A_Northern_Soul** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 9:24 am

IanRedpoint wrote:Just seen a press screening of this.

Stunning, simply stunning. Sam Riley is uncannily close to Ian Curtis in voice, looks and mannerisms. The four of them make a *very* convincing Joy Division, certainly in sound. All the live footage is the four actors playing rather than miming. All the better for it too. Samantha Morton is also excellent as Ian Curtis' wife Debbie.

Anton Corbijn does a great job as a first-time director (of feature films anyway). My friend rightly pointed out that you could take almost any frame from the film and blow it up into a poster. Shot entirely in black and white, it looks fantastic. Starkly beautiful.

Great script too. Full of Mancunian humour, neatly offset by Ian's lyrics.

Comes out in the UK on October 5th.

Cheers for the tip off! Looking forward to this.

How come you managed to get into a press screening?

jl · Post by jl » Wed Jul 04, 2007 9:10 pm

Here's the trailer, it looks fantastic.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=qrFKu3xwTlQ

jl · Post by jl » Wed Jul 04, 2007 9:14 pm

A_Northern_Soul wrote:I heard a rumour that there was another Joy Division/Ian Curtis biopic in production too. This one sounds like it'll be the "official" one though. Should be good.

And Samantha Morton in ANYTHING is OK by me!

If that's the one Moby was involved with, it never got out of the planning stages.

egomaniackid · Post by **egomaniackid** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 11:29 pm

For those who live in the US this:

The long-awaited Joy Divison feature film CONTROL will have its U.S. theatrical premiere at Film Forum in New York City on October 10, 2007.

This marks the feature debut of acclaimed rock photographer / music video director Anton Corbijn, who photographed Joy Division early in his career. British actor Sam Riley gives an unforgettable performance as Ian Curtis and Samantha Morton (SWEET AND LOWDOWN, IN AMERICA) portrays his wife, Deborah, upon whose memoir the film is based. CONTROL premiered in the Directors' Fortnight section of the 2007 Cannes film festival, where it won three prizes.

celadon · Post by **celadon** » Sat Oct 20, 2007 9:40 am

The actress in the movie likes BoC. Nice.

http://www.ew.com:80/ew/article/0,,2005 ... 72,00.html

volante · Post by **volante** » Sat Oct 20, 2007 12:56 pm

Let me know when this movie comes out on DVD. I love JD.

BrandNewRetro · Post by **BrandNewRetro** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 11:52 pm

I enjoyed this, was better than I thought it would be!

BrandNewRetro · Post by **BrandNewRetro** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 11:55 pm

celadon wrote:The actress in the movie likes BoC. Nice.

http://www.ew.com:80/ew/article/0,,2005 ... 72,00.html

And Squarepusher, fair play!