beautiful disaster

Control is the biopic of Ian Curtis, frontman for the 80's post-punk band Joy Division.
The film was beautifully shot by photographer and video director Anton Corbijn, whose previous music video credits include Depeche Mode, Joy Division, Echo and the Bunnymen, The Killers, U2 and even the 2nd version of Coldlpay's latest Viva La Vida.
As you can imagine, having had an extensive experience in music video making, Corbijn employed the same sensibilities in Control. Of course, this had both pros and cons for the film product.
Every shot seemed faithful to a storyboard. Shot probably in color but turned completely black and white for the final copy, the picture gives off a surreal rock and roll edge.
My issue with the aesthetics of the movie was, they didn't quite translate the turmoil that Ian Curtis was going through. The film was almost too quiet and serene except for the interspersed music performances. Ian as played by Sam Riley was too beautiful in each frame, almost to the point that emotions were blocked. The acting was good, but still I had to reach to feel his pain or what they were trying to show as his downward spiral.

The scenes took time. It made me think that the whole story could have been told in half an hour. The lingering silent shots of Ian Curtis seemed to be just skimming the surface in investigating a deeper justification for his eventual suicide.
The film posed 2 reasons for his early passing: Ian's depression over his epilepsy, which affected his show performance, and his relationship/s issue of having a wife and an affair. Both drove him to ending his life. Although I think both reasons were not presented in complicated and conflicting ways enough.

After the film, I felt intrigued as ever about Ian's life...given that he's only 23 at the time of his death, the film might have been as faithful to whatever information was available. I just wish that Corbijn went beyond his music video formula of sophisticated and fashionable shots. A jangling camera movement here or maybe a picked up pace in the editing there.
I was also looking for some sort of transformation from the main actor's physical appearance. He seemed immaculate and young all the way and I was hoping to see a bit of stress and wear in someone being plagued by increasing epileptic attacks. Who knows, it could be an artistic choice in an attempt to preserve Ian as this delicate persona with an almost saint-like aura.

In the end, the music stays brilliant and provided the much needed depth.