www.list.co.uk/film
DOCUMENTARY JOY DIVISION (15) 96mins on.
After last year’s Control, Anton Corbijn’s considered and stylish dramatisation of Ian Curtis’ life, it would be easy to think that everything you need to know about the legend and legacy of English post-punk outfit Joy Division has already been said. It has, but it has never been brought together with such lightness of touch and skill as it is here in Grant Gee’s imaginatively constructed documentary, which tells the story of Joy Division and troubled singer Ian Curtis with humour, warmth and often painful clarity.
There are two stars in this film: Ian Curtis and Manchester. The true patron saint of Manchester, the late (and most certainly great) Tony Wilson, sets the scene and sums it up in his own typically opulent but heartfelt way, setting the scene for our two stars.
There are several talking heads willing to wax lyrical about the significance of Joy Division’s music - cue Paul Morley - but Gee avoids too much fan boy fawning by dealing with eyewitnesses rather than posthumous plaudits.
Only Deborah Curtis, lan’s widow, is conspicuous by her absence, here, although there are quoted passages from her biography Touching From a Distance.
The film explains the swift rise and abrupt cessation of Joy Division and depicts their evolution from punk reactionaries to an intense group who did something that was genuinely unique, through rare footage, scant TV appearances, bootleg recordings intercut with personal photographs and recollections.
The incredible frankness and candour with which surviving band members Barney Sumner, Peter Hook and Steve Morris speak is at the heart of this film and their confusion and disappointment at Curtis’ suicide is palpable even now.
Curtis had a singular, truly personal vision and could express his frustrations, fears and despair with brutal accuracy. Sadly, no one noticed his despair in time to help him. His and Joy Division’s story further rubbishes the ludicrous live fast, die young rock’n’roll bullshit myth and this film is an eloquent postscript for the man, the group, and the city that spawned them: brutal, grim, untidy, odd but utterly beguiling. (Mark Robertson)
I Selected release from Fri 2 May.
ROMANCE/COMEDY FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL
(15) 110min O.
The Judd Apatow movie production line shows no signs of abating as Forgetting Sarah Marshall follows the template of Knocked Up to deliver some laughs. banal moralising and side characters that outshine the lead. Writer and star Jason Segal (hilarious in his attempts to pick up Leslie Mann in Knocked Up) is Peter Bretter. a composer who gets dumped by his soapstar girlfriend Sarah Marshall (Veronica Mars star Kristen Bell essentially playing herself).
Much to the chagrin of his brother- in-law (Bill Hader). with whom he has a hilarious relationship over cyber space, Peter decides to go to a Hawaii hotspot, which was the favourite location of his ex-girlfriend. There he bumps into her and her new rock-star boyfriend Aldous Snow (Russell Brand). Luckily Peter is sidetracked by the beautiful receptionist at the hotel (Mila Kunis). who takes an instant and unlikely shine to him.
As he did in St Trinian's. Brand acts like he's doing one of his stand-up routines: either you'll love him or hate him. Here he steals the movie with his suitably vacuous demeanour. artificial sex appeal and comic timing. Segal just cannot compete with Brand when they share the screen.
DeSpite a handful of excellent. funny set pieces. Forgetting Sarah Marshall is sub Apatow and for the most part predictable and grating plot in that way that only romantic comedies can be. (Kaleem Aftab)
I General release from Fri 25 Apr.
HORROR THE EYE (15) 96min 0.
Jessica Alba stars as a blind concert violinist who becomes haunted by
ALSO RELEASED .
Pathology (18) 94min O." 1“ When new intern Ted (Milo Ventimiglia) stumbles across a very nasty little secret at a university hospital in Philadelphia. he knows he has to act. The trouble is that the future of his career revolves around him turning a blind eye. Pedestrian, cliched TV-inspired horror thriller (ER and 08/ should sue). Rent Lars von Trier's The Kingdom TV series instead. Out now on general release.
Deception (15) 107min 00 * “ " Another year another chronic thriller starring Ewan McGregor. In this one he plays accountant Jonathan who is bored and lonely until he meets lawyer Wyatt (Hugh Jackman). Wyatt introduces him to the dark pleasures of a sex club called The List (sadly no relation) but Jonathan is soon over his head when he becomes the prime suspect in the disappearance of a mysterious young lady (Michelle Williams). Turgid sub- Hitchcockian nonsense. General release from Fri 25 Apr.
Iron Man (12A) 125min (unable to review at press time) Actor/director Jon Elf Favreau's big screen adaptation of Stan Lee, Don Heck, Larry Lieber and Jack Kirby's superhero comic series starring Robert Downey Jr. Reviewed next issue. General release from Fri 2 May.
terrifying supernatural visions once a corneal transplant restores her sight in yet another Asian horror remake. this time inspired by the 2002 film directed by Hong Kong-based filmmakers Danny and Oxide Pang.
But while this English language version of The Eye does contain some disturbing imagery early on and plays well on the fear of blindness. it also sticks too closely to formula and brings no new focus to the genre. Co- directors David Moreau and Xavier Palud opt for camera trickery over genuine scares and cannot see their way to delivering an ending that's anything but
contrived.
Alba. to be fair, delivers one of her better performances as Sydney Wells and was clearly committed to the role. having studied blindness extensively and taken up violin training for six months. But she's hindered by a screenplay that hits too many false notes and a supponing cast that includes Alessandro Nivola and Parker Posey. who simply go through the motions. The biggest problem with The Eye. however. is that it's symptomatic of Hollywood's short sighted policy with regard to the horror market in general. It's time to sound the death knell for this remake culture. (Roberto Carnevale)
I General release from Fri 25 Apr.
24 Apr—8 May 2008 THE LIST 49