Since the film has to include
Ian Curtis's suicide at 23, it's obviously not going to be entirely cheerful. Actually, the film turned out to be both funnier and more heartbreaking than director Corbijn's previous focus on producing videos for U2 and Bryan Adams might suggest.
Shot in brutal-beautiful black and white cinematography, and with a great sound track, the film covers Curtis's brief adolescent/adult life, particularly getting married to Deborah Woodruff (a fantastic performance here from Samantha Morton) while they were both teenagers, and of course, The Joy Division.
The film covers Curtis's fears about his epilepsy and the effect of the drugs he was taking to control it, and the pressure and vulnerability the bands sucess brought, the films central tradegedy is given over to Curis's affair with Annik Honoré. It's testament to the actors and director's abilities that Curtis doesn't just come off as a complete git - having an affair with one woman while his wife was stuck at home with their baby daughter. Sam Riley, who got to play Mark E. Smith in 2002's 24 Hour Party People, which focused on Tony Wilson and also included Curtis's suicide, is outstanding here. Torn between the debt he owes to Deborah for supporting the band in it's early days and the obvious security she provides, and being head over heels with the more intellectually compatible and also pretty hot Annik, Ian is portrayed as confused, weak, unable to cope with the situation, and a terrible dad.
Joe Anderson puts in a great performance as Peter Hook, and while Craig Parkinson isn't a good a Tony Wilson as Alan Coogan was, he does leave you wishing that there were a longer list of Wilson impersonators. Best of all is Toby Kebbell as Rob Gretton, who storms through the film as the bands ballsy, sweary manager, getting the best lines and stealing every scene he's in. My favourite? After a performance has been cut short by a Curtis's on-stage fit, Gretton dismissing his misery with "Cheer up, it could be worse. You could be the lead singer in The Fall".
Wasn't Smith in 24 Hour Party People As Himself ?
Posted by: palmer_eldritch | April 21, 2008 at 03:18 PM
I thought I'd capitalise every word there, just to be different.
Posted by: palmer_eldritch | April 21, 2008 at 03:21 PM
Toby Kebbel is a great actor, he was really good in Dead Man's Shoes and the short (about wrestling) that was released with it. Odd that his brother in DMS was played by Paddy Considine, who played Rob Gretton in 24 Hour...
Re MES, from memory didn't he appear in 24 Hour..., but not as MES, just as a shambolic bystander (a part he was born for)?
Posted by: Gilbert | April 22, 2008 at 02:55 PM
Will Smith As Himself would have been great in 24 Hour Party People! If only it had occured to anyone. Mark E (& Howard Deveto) are both in there, hanging around as dodgy looking onlookers, but not As Themselves.
I'd completely forgotten that Kebbel played the mentally challenged brother in Dead Men's Shoe's. Although it's nice to imagine that if fate hadn't treated Anthony differently he would have grown up to turn into Rob Gretton.
I'm off to see Somers Town next weekend. Somewhat worryingly, IMDB suggests that if I enjoy it I'll also relish Love Actually and a dodgey looking straight-to-video called Jesus.
Posted by: Josie Fraser | April 22, 2008 at 03:58 PM
Shane-tastic!!!!!! Let me know what Somerstown is like, v keen on Mr Meadows' work, and not just because he's a Notts fan.
Posted by: Gilbert | April 23, 2008 at 04:15 PM
But Coogan / Wilson says "Hello Mark" to him doesn't he? Obviously too complicated to give him a different name as well as having him in the film in the first place!
Posted by: palmer_eldritch | April 24, 2008 at 11:54 AM
It's probably not too difficult for the script writers. It's probably too much for Mark E.
Posted by: Josie Fraser | April 24, 2008 at 12:10 PM
Must check if he has his teeth in next time I see the fillum. That's always a good sign whether he's compos mentis.
Posted by: palmer_eldritch | May 03, 2008 at 12:28 AM
lol you have more faith in any Mark E. Smith weather vein of sanity than I'll ever be able to muster.
Posted by: Josie Fraser | May 04, 2008 at 02:43 PM
Flik called a student a "male slag" this morning, afraid I couldn't stop myself shrieking "Male Slags-ah!!!!!!!" It's like bloody Tourettes.
Posted by: Gilbert | May 13, 2008 at 10:22 AM
There must be an actual medical condition that consists of involuntary Mark E Smith inflections. I know I'm prone to it. Uh.
Posted by: Josie Fraser | May 15, 2008 at 08:08 PM