Control (2004)
Cast: Ray Liotta, Willem Dafoe, Michelle Rodriguez, Stephen Rea
This was an interesting little film. Released direct-to-DVD in 2004, Control stars Ray Liotta as a sociopath currently set to receive the death penalty for murder. His death is staged by the prison, and Liotta awakens in the presence of Dr. Copeland (Willem Dafoe). Copeland is running trial tests on an experimental behavior-suppressing drug, overseen by both Copeland and his financier (Stephen Rea). He views the sociopathic Liotta as a prime candidate for the tests. The drug has no effect at first, but eventually Liotta begins to show signs of normality, even going so far as to feel genuine regret and sorrow for an innocent bystander who is now brain-damaged because Liotta shot him while fleeing from a crime scene.
Liotta is released back into society, heavily-monitored, and begins to lead a regular life. He finds a job at a car wash alongside Michelle Rodriguez, with whom he begins to have a developing romance. But all does not stay peaceful for long, as Liotta's former associates realize that he is still alive, and want him dead.
Control was set for a theatrical release and then abandoned in DVD Hell, probably because the studio didn't think a Ray Liotta film was a big enough box office draw. It is not a bad film. Liotta is especially good in his role, and Michelle Rodriguez plays her part with just enough interest in Liotta to want to date him, but just enough suspicion to not fully trust him. Dafoe somewhat sleepwalks his role, but still manages to be engaging. While the synopsis sounds like a hollow Clockwork Orange retread, Control differs itself from Kubrick's work by focusing the story on the characters rather than the theme. Liotta is truly loathsome in his sociopath mode, and his change to a normal human is handled gradually rather than with a montage and a big revalatory scene. Dafoe's Dr. Copeland is a doctor who does care greatly for his experiments, but knows that his subject is an actual human being and treats him as such. And as previously mentioned, Rodriguez always seems a little skeptical that an older man would be so innocently attracted to her, though not enough to dismiss him.
Like most movies, Control doesn't know what to do with itself at the end. The conclusion feels rushed, and too many subplots are left loose. There is a revelation made near the end of the film that is supposed to inspire one of those emotions that are better left in Hallmark cards than on the screen. Still, it's no greater a crime than what is committed at the cinemas on a weekly basis.
Control should have been given a fighting chance in the theater, but now is stuck in Netflix territory. Check it out if you get the chance.
This was an interesting little film. Released direct-to-DVD in 2004, Control stars Ray Liotta as a sociopath currently set to receive the death penalty for murder. His death is staged by the prison, and Liotta awakens in the presence of Dr. Copeland (Willem Dafoe). Copeland is running trial tests on an experimental behavior-suppressing drug, overseen by both Copeland and his financier (Stephen Rea). He views the sociopathic Liotta as a prime candidate for the tests. The drug has no effect at first, but eventually Liotta begins to show signs of normality, even going so far as to feel genuine regret and sorrow for an innocent bystander who is now brain-damaged because Liotta shot him while fleeing from a crime scene.
Liotta is released back into society, heavily-monitored, and begins to lead a regular life. He finds a job at a car wash alongside Michelle Rodriguez, with whom he begins to have a developing romance. But all does not stay peaceful for long, as Liotta's former associates realize that he is still alive, and want him dead.
Control was set for a theatrical release and then abandoned in DVD Hell, probably because the studio didn't think a Ray Liotta film was a big enough box office draw. It is not a bad film. Liotta is especially good in his role, and Michelle Rodriguez plays her part with just enough interest in Liotta to want to date him, but just enough suspicion to not fully trust him. Dafoe somewhat sleepwalks his role, but still manages to be engaging. While the synopsis sounds like a hollow Clockwork Orange retread, Control differs itself from Kubrick's work by focusing the story on the characters rather than the theme. Liotta is truly loathsome in his sociopath mode, and his change to a normal human is handled gradually rather than with a montage and a big revalatory scene. Dafoe's Dr. Copeland is a doctor who does care greatly for his experiments, but knows that his subject is an actual human being and treats him as such. And as previously mentioned, Rodriguez always seems a little skeptical that an older man would be so innocently attracted to her, though not enough to dismiss him.
Like most movies, Control doesn't know what to do with itself at the end. The conclusion feels rushed, and too many subplots are left loose. There is a revelation made near the end of the film that is supposed to inspire one of those emotions that are better left in Hallmark cards than on the screen. Still, it's no greater a crime than what is committed at the cinemas on a weekly basis.
Control should have been given a fighting chance in the theater, but now is stuck in Netflix territory. Check it out if you get the chance.
posted by Wretched Genius at 12:13 PM
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