Joy Division - Heart and Soul, what will burn
October 10, 2007 11:43 AM   Subscribe

Control, the biopic covering the the life and untimely death of Joy Division's singer Ian Curtis, opens in the US today (on a limited release) [ trailer | fan site | on set interview ]. This is director Anton Corbijn's debut full length film [ interview ] and was co-produced by Tony Wilson (a giant in the Manchester and UK music scene, sadly missed. Check out 24 Hour Party People [trailer | clip]) . Control opened in the UK several days ago and the reviews are largely positive [ Guardian | Times Online | Independent | Channel 4 | Time Out | Manchester Evening News ].

Joy Division had a short existence [ complete recording sessions ] but made a huge impact on the British post-punk music scene. Their debut EP An Ideal for Living (and the cult "Warsaw" demo bootleg) [ No Love Lost | Warsaw ] set the tone for their bleak sound (and lyrics), and their two studio LPs Unknown Pleasures [ Shadowplay | She's Lost Control | Disorder | New Dawn Fades ] and Closer [ Colony | 24 Hours | Isolation ] along with a clutch of outstanding non-LP singles [ Love Will Tear Us Apart | Transmission | Atmosphere ] only re-enforced their unique sound (in no small part due to ther maverick producer Martin Hannett [ wiki ]). Their final release Still is patchy (some good early demos including Walked in Line), but for the whole story see the Heart and Soul four CD compilations. Add the BBC Sessions, and you've got just about everything they recorded.

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery? See Interpol, Editors and Jah Division!
posted by the_very_hungry_caterpillar (40 comments total) 36 users marked this as a favorite
 
3,5,0,1,2,5, Go!
posted by psmealey at 11:49 AM on October 10, 2007


Jah Division!

Ha!
posted by dersins at 11:56 AM on October 10, 2007


Awesome. I've been wondeirng when this would surface.
posted by Artw at 12:01 PM on October 10, 2007


"Man. These guys sound a lot like Joy Division."

I was just reading about this movie. I had forgotten it was coming out soon. Thanks for the links.
posted by sleepy pete at 12:01 PM on October 10, 2007


Blimey, that Guardian review is a bit enthusiastic isn't it? I think he spaffed himself while writing it.
posted by Artw at 12:05 PM on October 10, 2007


Tangentially related. And while going through that thread I feel a little ashamed that I kept thinking, "Meh, I've got an original issue copy of the 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' single."
posted by sleepy pete at 12:24 PM on October 10, 2007


The movie played last month here in Milwaukee. I had tickets but had to bow out to other commitments. I wanted to see it because it was directed by Corbijn
posted by JJ86 at 12:26 PM on October 10, 2007


A friend of mine suggested that Ian's daughter Natalie should start a teenybopper pop band called Boy Division.

I've been waiting for this for so many years. Too bad it doesn't have robots or Adam Sandler or a robotic Adam Sandler in it, because if it did then the dorks who do all the camming and screener ripping would be pissing themselves to be the first to get it up on Demonoid and I wouldn't have to wait another six months for a DVD release.
posted by bunnytricks at 12:29 PM on October 10, 2007


I always feel weird because I love Joy Division, but I have gotten terribly sick of Love Will Tear Us Apart.

I am looking forward to seeing this though.
posted by khaibit at 12:35 PM on October 10, 2007


"It could be worse," laughs Gretton cheerfully as Curtis lies semi-conscious in his dressing room, "you could be in the Fall."

Teh funneh!
posted by Slothrup at 12:48 PM on October 10, 2007 [2 favorites]


I love Joy Division's obscurer stuff (i.e., meaning almost anything other than "Love Will Tear Us Apart" and "She's Lost Control"). "Dead Souls" gives me goosebumps almost every time I listen to it.

I'm looking forward to seeing the flick too, though methinks Sam Riley is wayyyyy too pretty to be playing Ian Curtis.

"24 Hour Party People" was an awesome flick, BTW.
posted by blucevalo at 12:49 PM on October 10, 2007


I saw Control last week and it's a sober companion to 24 Hour Party People. It didn't play like a standard music biopic at all, which was a relief, but I was floored by how restrained the storytelling was and how beautifully bleak the cinematography was.
posted by myopicman at 12:59 PM on October 10, 2007


I like Joy Division.
posted by brevator at 1:22 PM on October 10, 2007 [1 favorite]


Previously (and quite cool): Love Will Tear Us Apart covers
posted by Artw at 1:23 PM on October 10, 2007


but I was floored by how restrained the storytelling was and how beautifully bleak the cinematography was.

God, I would hope at the very least that it got that right.

"It could be worse," laughs Gretton cheerfully as Curtis lies semi-conscious in his dressing room, "you could be in the Fall."

THAT is too fucking funny!!
posted by Skygazer at 1:25 PM on October 10, 2007


Favorited on principle.
posted by basicchannel at 1:30 PM on October 10, 2007


I am a JD fan.
posted by jdfan at 1:35 PM on October 10, 2007


Siobhan Fahey - She's Lost Control (NSFW).
posted by homunculus at 1:46 PM on October 10, 2007


That's very comprehensive but you forgot the trainers...

I'd like to say this is the film I'm been looking forward to for ages (Sam Morton, Tony Kebble who are brilliant in everything I've seen them in, director with an obvious passion for the subject, lovely looking visual style etc etc)... but the last film I like that was Sunshine, and that turned out to be rubbish.
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 1:56 PM on October 10, 2007


There's also a Joy Division documentary, Joy Division, that's been making the festival circuit with Control.
posted by needled at 1:56 PM on October 10, 2007


Saw it over the weekend and what myopicman said about the bleak cinematography is so true. You can tell that it was directed by a photographer - every single shot would have worked so well as a still.
posted by muthecow at 2:14 PM on October 10, 2007


"It could be worse," laughs Gretton cheerfully as Curtis lies semi-conscious in his dressing room, "you could be in the Fall."

Sam Riley played M E Smith in 24 Hour Party People.
posted by punilux at 2:31 PM on October 10, 2007


I'm picturing a fashionable young hipster finally landing an evening with a hard-to-get date by scoring tickets to the Joy Division documentary/biopic doublebill. And as he escorts her into the theater, he's thinking, "I am so going to score tonight!"
posted by ardgedee at 2:37 PM on October 10, 2007


The un-Joy Divisiony "Let's Dance to Joy Division"
posted by senor biggles at 2:38 PM on October 10, 2007


According to Wikipedia all live Joy Division performances in the film are performed by the actors. I wonder how that went over?
posted by Sailormom at 2:41 PM on October 10, 2007


Jah Division?

Your favourite dub cover band sucks.

Radiodread is tha irie sound system, mon!
posted by UbuRoivas at 2:54 PM on October 10, 2007


earliest (Peel/BBC) recording of Love Will Tear Us Apart (w/video commentary).
posted by progosk at 2:59 PM on October 10, 2007


Ubu: Dread Zeppelin?
posted by progosk at 3:04 PM on October 10, 2007


>The un-Joy Divisiony "Let's Dance to Joy Division"

That high-pitched wiring sound you might just be able to hear is Curtis spinning in his grave (I know he was cremated but bear with me...)
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 3:43 PM on October 10, 2007


According to Wikipedia all live Joy Division performances in the film are performed by the actors. I wonder how that went over?

They're good. It's obvious that the songs aren't the original studio recordings (they sound slightly different), and it's obvious they're not actual live recordings of JD (sound quality is too good). But they certainly sound like they could be Joy Division.

The only sour note on a fabulous soundtrack (you get Curtis-favourites like Bowie and Iggy, too) is the Killers on the closing credits. Could have done without that.

but the last film I like that was Sunshine, and that turned out to be rubbish.

I went into Control with the same apprehensions that you have. I needn't have worried; it's one of my favourite films of this year.
posted by Infinite Jest at 3:50 PM on October 10, 2007


My favorite cover of "Love Will Tear Us Apart" is the throat-singing of ALBERT KUVEZIN and YAT-KHA
posted by asfuller at 4:51 PM on October 10, 2007


I don't mind advertising at all, but I do wonder why a post like this doesn't get the more sensitive in MeFi crying, "pepsibluuuuuue!!"

Anyway, excellent post, and I am looking forward to seeing the movie myself.
posted by sappidus at 4:51 PM on October 10, 2007


huh, link not working to my intended above http://www.yat-kha.com/html/what/yat_kha_cd_recovers.php
posted by asfuller at 4:53 PM on October 10, 2007


Mashup of the movie footage and actual performance portrayed in said movie {vid}
posted by MiltonRandKalman at 6:46 PM on October 10, 2007


Ubu: I prefer "Rodeohead" myself...
posted by jonathanstrange at 12:50 AM on October 11, 2007


Not sure if your title gets the lyric wrong on purpose, but it's supposed to be "one will burn", not "what will burn".

I got to see the L.A. premier few weeks ago. It was fantastic. As has been mentioned it was quite bleak and depressing, but such was the short and sad life of Ian Curtis. The filming was beautiful, and as someone else mentioned, it's as if each frame of the movie is one of Corbijn's iconic photographs.
posted by RoseovSharon at 11:22 AM on October 11, 2007


I do wonder why a post like this doesn't get the more sensitive in MeFi crying, "pepsibluuuuuue!!"

Or at the very least... pepsi black, or pepsi very, very sad. And lonely.
posted by psmealey at 12:56 PM on October 11, 2007


the film's director, anton corbijn, started out in holland as a rock photographer. in 1979, he heard joy division and liked their sound so much that he moved to england to be where the cool music was happening. he photographed the band a few times before its dissolution, and now, 30 years later, he's directing the film.
posted by twistofrhyme at 6:49 PM on October 11, 2007




I absolutely loved Joy Division and will be seeing this movie as soon as it comes around. I hope it's as good as 24 Hour Party People.
posted by Badger at 1:52 PM on October 16, 2007


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