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[Chad K.]

I didn't see any previous threads about this movie.  I just rented it, and I loved it.  It's almost creepy how much the actors playing the band look and sound like the real Joy Division.  I was never an enormous fan, and now I find I can't get their songs out of my head. 

[BlahBlah]

Yeah, I really enjoyed the film.

[Bowers]

I love Joy Division.

I read the book and instantly started to dislike (even hate) Ian Curtis for what he did to his wife.
You can put it down to his epilepsy but I just think he was such an asshole to her and all of those who were around him.

But you can’t deny that the man was a genius,
A fantastic songwriter and an amazing front man.

I've been trying to get hold of the film for a while now,
Been dying to see it ever since I heard it was getting made.

[the Goat]

I'd like to see it, though I've heard mixed reviews.

I too really enjoyed 24 hour Party People. It's not a great film, but I've seen it well over 5 times and enjoyed everyone.

[PassiveTheory]

A lot of good musicians have been downright douchebags;

Ian Curtis, Morrissey, James Brown, etc. etc.

[spidergland]

Control really didn't do anything for me, which is such a shame because I was so excited about it for ages.  The film just didn't have the emotional connection for me.  It was as if Anton had read Touching from a Distance and made pretty postcards of the scenes involved but without elaborating on any of them.  Of course that's what loads of people liked about that film so I guess I'm just weird.   To be honest though, if you don't know anything about Joy Division or haven't read Deborah Curtis' book then I don't think the film works, especially as Ian Curtis is given no redeeming qualities.

[De_El]

Maybe I'm in denial but I never thought Ian Curtis was that huge a douchebag, even after seeing the movie.  I just figured he was young, fucked up, and had a very poor idea of how to deal with people.

Similarly, I may just have been enthralled because it was Joy Division, but I liked the movie a lot and plan to buy the DVD soon as I scrape some cash together. Or remember that it exists, whichever comes first.

[Tom]

To be honest though, if you don't know anything about Joy Division or haven't read Deborah Curtis' book then I don't think the film works, especially as Ian Curtis is given no redeeming qualities.

Not entirely surprised at this seeing as he cheated on her, some people get all sore for the silliest reasons...

[spidergland]

Sorry, what I was trying to say was the book paints the fuller picture.  There is more to it than "hurr, my name is Ian Curtis, I don't love my wife at all, I sleep with a Belgian girl and then kill myself"  which the film doesn't get across, whereas the book does.

Considering what he put her through, I found Deborah's book to be wonderfully balanced.

[gardenhead_]

I agree with this, though I liked that the film was a sort of companion to the book. I found that the film showed everything exactly as I'd envisioned it while reading the book, which was a bit weird. I also think it did Joy Division much more justice than 24 Hour Party People did. It's kinda long though.

[Tom]

So you mentally envisioned the book in black-and-white?

[tommydski]

I don't know if you've ever looked at the printed word on paper but 'black and white' tends to be the most common swatch.

[Thrillho]

I couldn't stand to read the book because it was chapter after chapter of 'my husband was a cunt to me and I put up with it for some reason,' so I didn't finish it.

I've also not seen the film yet, and didn't read much of the press. It's got good reviews, and all. Going on what you guys are saying I don't think I'll bother.

[Ishotdanieljohnston]

I actually loved the film. Thought it was gut wretching by the end. I read the book, and had very little sympathy for him at the end. But the film makes him out as so HUMAN. In parts I forgot Sam Rielly wasn't Ian Curtis. Its great, and the book is great.

[NotDave]

I thought the film was good, although if anything I felt that it romanticised Curtis a little too much (not to the same extent as something like Motorcycle Diaries does for Che Guevera, but a bit nonetheless). I suppose it's difficult to make a biopic that doesn't do that. They are, by their nature, inspired by an abiding interest in a personality, and even a film like Control that shows both the negative aspects of that personalities life as well as the genius of them will almost inevitably end up feeling a little reverential. Perhaps that isn't a bad thing. At the very least Corbijn's film looks great and has an awesome soundtrack (obviously). It is definitely worth seeing.