controls

She's Out of Control
$14.94
I love this movie. It's funny and makes me nostalgic because I was just a kid when it came to theaters. The acting is great and the situations are funny. I just wish some studio would re-release the movie! Look at the other '80s teen movies on this site: $6.99-$12.99. This one: starting at $54!!! No way! Hopefully, in time, they will release it in an anniversary edition or something. Then I'll definitely buy it.

ABC News 20/20 Drinking: Are You in Control?
$19.95
Finally, a documentary that takes on the BS of the 12-Step "treatment establsihment"! This documentary goes on both sides of the "moderation vs. abstinance", disease vs. acquired, and genetics vs. learned debates of addiction! This documentary is a MUST SHOW for any serious addiction educator that willing to be objective enough to show something OTHER then the 12 Step BS that is so common, and over-bearing!

Control (The Miriam Collection)
$24.95
I remember first hearing Ian Curtis' haunting, gloomily dictatorial croon in the 2001 semi classic "Donnie Darko" and as a kid listening to Nine Inch Nails' version of "Dead Souls" on "The Crow" soundtrack. They struck me, and still do, as one of the darkest bands I have ever heard--move over, all you candya** contemporary posers like Manson or Evanescence. One might even say that they went full circle with the lyrics of insanity, impending doom, etc with Curtis' absurdly early demise. They were the real thing.

Anton Corbjin's "Control" is not so much about the band Joy Divison itself as Curtis' life. Shot in a sort of sepia black and white style typical of his photography, a minimalist approach to this enigmatic and ultra tragic figure is employed to maximum effect. Inspired by Deborah Curtis's "Touching From A Distance", a biopic on her tumultuous relationship with Curtis, I couldn't but feel that some of the uglier aspects of Curtis' personality--and the very real possibility that he faked his epilepsy--were glossed over. We don't see much of the monstrous behavior Curtis would often display, like dumping a Bloody Mary on his wife's head for dancing with a friend at their wedding, or nearly kicking in Tony Wilson's door (the scene makes his verbal assault on the legendary music producer seem "cool") when he didn't get his way.

Don't get me wrong, this is a fine film and illustrates well how Curtis' infidelity and non-communicativeness, worlds apart seemingly from everyone else, may have led to his tragic demise. It is also a fantastic portrayal of the post industrial punk scene of that time. But I can't help wondering if there was something else going on besides these things. Ian Curtis was a person who did not want help. Deborah Curtis suggested he see a psychologist on numerous occasions and he absolutely refused to do so.

The film illustrates some very real possibilities, but I doubt that the final book or film on Curtis has been written or made. That said, this is a nearly great film everyone who has any interest a classic band and a sad musical figure should see.

Out of Control Tour 2009 (Ac3 Dol) [Blu-ray]
$35.98