Very average documentry. Anyone who knows a bit about Joy Division will probably be a bit bored; apart from the "live" performances, this was a bit of a waste of time.Shame. (well ok the John Peel Bit was good).
shareWell I loved it - the film actually made me remember how I felt way back in 1978 when I heard the band for the first time, and that has to be some achievement.
Perhaps you mean people who know too much about Joy Division might be a bit bored? I was never an anorak about them, but I loved them then, and love them now - and I loved this film.
Well, I've already read two books about JD, "Torn Apart" and "Touching From The Distance", as well as articles, seen live performances, a short documentary or two (and of course, seen "Control" and "24 Hour Party People", but those movies took some liberties and/or were a bit shallow in their presentation of JD), and I wasn't bored at all. If you already knew all this, well, great. But what was the filmmaker supposed to do, make up things? And how often do you have the chance to see Sumner, Hook and Morris as well as Annik Honore talk about Ian in front of the camera? It's not like they're known to give interviews about Ian all the time. Not to mention all the other important people who talk for the movie, like Tony Wilson
The movie is accurate (unlike "Control", which changed some things that didn't need changing, and included some very bad dialogue in the scenes which were imagined by the screenwriter, like the scenes between Ian and Annik or Ian and Debbie), and unlike "Control" or Deborah's book, this movie does give justice to the musis and importance of Joy Division, rather than just concentrating on Curtis's private life, so it would be great for people who don't know much about Joy Division as well.
better sorry than safe
I knew nearly everything that was in this film, but it was so well put-together, with the added live performances from various English shows that I've only heard about but never seen (!) made it very entertaining. I think it might've actually done the band justice - which few post-band documentaries seem to do.
The real trick to life is not to be in the know, but to be in the mystery. -Fred Alan Wolf
Yes, this documentary is a great testament to Joy Division, and being a big fan I am very grateful Mr. Gee took the time and effort to make it, in my opinion a masterpiece.
The Departed - Best Picture 2006
Martin Scorsese - Best Director 2006
There Is A God
I really enjoyed Control, but I would never consider it a JD story. I wouldn't even call it Ian's story. It's really Debbie's story. She's one of the first characters in the film and one of the last at the end. It's more film than documentary, so the artistic freedom makes more sense there.
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I also think the way the film depicts Manchester and the era when JD started sets this apart. Yes, we all know the story, but that great footage of Manchester (in the Seventies but looking like it was immediately post war) gave this a unique authenticity.
Plus there was some performance footage there that you won't have seen anywhere else.
My body makes no moan
But sings on:
All things remain in God.
Hmmm , I thought it was fascinating and I know pretty much everything there is to know about the band.
shareI don't agree with the original poster at all. I've read countless articles and books about Joy Division and thought I'd seen all the TV footage there was (I hadn't! Although I'm a step closer now) and there were still plenty of new insights offered both through the interviews and the visual stimuli.
shareIt seems that knowing "a bit about Joy Division" and fully appreciating their music and their story are not one and the same, especially in your case. You don't seem to have any genuine love for the band, judging by your reaction to this film.
Grant Gee and Jon Savage have created a fantastic film with what some would say were limited resources. The choice of contributors was exemplary and their telling of the story, coupled with the use of stock, news and other footage was expertly edited together to capture the excitement, power and sheer majesty of the best band in the world (along with New Order of course !), in a way that I have not seen in any other music documentary. I guess you could say I liked it. I went to see it two day's running at the Cinema because I loved it so much !
I'm 37 now and went to see New Order when I was 14 in Glasgow. It's still one of the best gigs I've ever seen. I've loved Joy Division/New Order ever since and they now occupy a special, unassailable place in my heart, despite some of the mediocre material New Order have put out in recent years. Maybe I'm at one end of the spectrum, but I do know a bit about Joy Division.