Joy Division (2007)

Incomplete film

Actually, this is an incomplete film because one fact: There isn't any kind of participation with Deborah Woodruffe (aka Debbie Curtis, Ian's wife), who is a central part on Ian's life and so, Joy Division's trajectory.

This unties the vision that the film tries to explore about Ian Curtis' way of thinking and final decision, showing JUST the half of Ian's dilema: an interview with the beauty and sofisticated but uncomfortable Annik (the lover), but leaving away the point of view of the person that last saw Ian alive (and who found him death), and the one he didn't want to leave because he loved her: Debbie (the wife and Ian's daughter mother).

Producers and Director should wait until they have the complete material.

In the other hand, you can watch "Control" simultaneosly (with Samantha Morton in Debbie's role, and the angel come from heaven Ana María Lara in Annik's role) and complete the scene.
October 1, 2008

Even though you know the story like the back of your hand.

Manc foursome led by deathtripping Ballard fan sees Pistols play their town, hooks up with rubbish TV host, frontman develops epilepsy, gets involved in extramarital affair, kills himself after band does two albums, rest of band soldiers on with drummer's girlfriend for two decades, when guitarist and bassist aren't at each other's throats, and they ignore Joy Division's canon until the end of their careers.

Third film in the series, but you know why you come back to this because they're a great band and there's more in the group than Ian Curtis. The interviews are great (RIP Tony Wilson, and I could listen to Hooky read the contents off a tin of Heinz Beans). Would some of the Granada performances been nice to be included in their entirety? You betcha. The one performance is repeated from the Control DVD. Would it have been nice to have had additional interviews? Sure. Where's Debbie? Maybe John Cooper Clarke could have popped up? That said, it's a great film. Tells a sad story. Left behind some really wonderful post-punk music.

Signed,
epsteinsmutha September 24, 2008

Documentary

Good side: It is great collection of interviews (even with real Annik Honoré).

The bad side: Created today, little archival content :-(

Anyway, it is well to watch it.

Tim. September 18, 2008

Well worth viewing!

The movie "Control" was good but not full of the stuff i wanted to know about this band. This Documentary was far better!. Even the style of the doc. is true to Joy Divisions creativity! I learned all I needed to know about the band and then some. the interviews are fantastic! and its full of just the right amount of their great music. September 7, 2008

An Instant Classic

This rock doc is a masterpiece! If you're a Radiohead fan you may have seen the doc of them titled Meeting People Is Easy, another masterpiece documentary in my opinion done by the same director as this one , Grant Gee. It is also written by a real insider into the Joy Division scene as well, Jon Savage. If you're familiar at all with Joy Division and/or New Order don't even hesitate about viewing this, it interviews everyone connected to the band imaginable with awesomely introspective bits coupled with great performance footage.

Unlike Control, the feature film centered around just the lead singer Ian Curtis, this doc covers all the bases and with style. But even if you're not quite or not at all aware of Joy Division, you will be sucked into this story I guarantee it. Yes the group is and has been immeasurably influential to the music world but the real characters/people who have lived this amazing story translate it grippingly. September 3, 2008

More reviews at Amazon.com ...