Customer Reviews

Control

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This movie probably isn't worth 5 stars but for an unheard of movie I only picked up for Ray Liotta and Willem Dafoe, that ended up being pretty good, now that's rare. I mean, how often do you pick up a movie that you've NEVER HEARD OF, with an unheard of director and end up loving it? Barely ever!
Control is a thriller with a highly creative plot and with some seriously awesome acting by Ray Liotta. I am a huge fan of his and he was fantastic in this movie. Don't believe me? Just watch this movie then! Watch his facial expressions, especially when he's playing thta video game and blowing away all of the cops.
The movie is about a criminal (Ray Liotta) convicted of numerous murders who instead of beeing put to death, is able to be one of the tests of a new drug proposed by a doctor (Willem Dafoe). This drug is supposed to be able to transform criminals, making them feel pity and remorse about what they've done. From one day to the next, this criminal is changing, crying, and is nice. He is put out in the real world to see how he will manage. What will hapeen? Well, you'll just have to find out! The ending is great and a good exclamation point on a great movie. The movie also happens to have its touching moments that made me think...a lot. It goes into the head of a psycho, and shows his human side. Why did he become who he did? This movie gives all the explanations, explanations probably true for most people like this one.
Well, for a different movie with an original plot (similiar in originality to Unforgettable's) and a good leading performance, with some good thrills and even sweet moments, check this unheard of movie out.

This is a movie that went largely unnoticed and has been bumbing around for quite some time. Ray Liotta stars in this gripping thriller as Lee Ray, a sociopathic killer serving time on death row. He is secretly given a rare second chance when the brilliant Dr. Miles Copeland (Willem Dafoe) offers to use him as a test subject for a new drug designed to squelch violent tendencies. Lee agrees, and they go through the motions of lethal injection, and the former criminal assumes a new life with a new identity. Soon, however, things start to go horribly awry; Lee starts to become haunted by his violent past and doesn't know if he can maintain his control.

Liotta is wonderful in this film giving one of his strongest performances since Goodfellas. Co-Stars Steven Rea and Michelle Rodriguez as Lee's girlfriend. A nice little psychological thriller. The DVD is in 1.85 aspect widescreen and features one short making of feature and trailer. Worth a rent at least.

The Pygmalion myth of radical transformation takes on a whole new meaning in Director Tim Hunter's film "Control." Modern pharmacology is the catalyst which turns violent career criminal and sociopath Lee Ray Olivier, (Ray Liotta), into a relatively normal human being, who understands the difference between right and wrong, and is capable of feeling remorse. Consider the implications if this kind of medication, proven effective, could be made available in some distant future. How would this effect violent crime?

Mr. Oliver believes he is being executed by lethal injection for his crimes. He shouts four-letter epithets at the witnesses as the fluid enters his bloodstream. When he awakens, however, he is not in Hell - he is alive, lying on a slab at the city morgue. Short and sweet - he is told that, if he is willing to be a test subject for a new medication, he could have a second chance at life. Otherwise, the execution will continue right there, in the morgue, immediately. The little yellow pills alter the brains chemistry, suppress violent tendencies and reduce aggression. What's he got to lose?

Dr. Miles Copeland, (William DeFoe), is a neuropharmacologist and the designer of the miracle drug he believes, if taken regularly, with appropriate supervision, can turn a brutal sociopath into an average citizen. There's lots of explosive violence, (Liotta is a master at portraying rage), until his brain chemistry is finally altered. Then the noticeable difference in the man is mind-boggling.

Phase two of the experiment has Oliver out on the street, with an apartment and job of his own, a monitoring device locked on his ankle, camera's in every room, and a surveillance van outside the front door. Through a series of "unforeseeable events," he is forced to run, although his heart and soul are with the program. I don't want to give anything away...so I will stop here. But there are some twists and turns that even I did not see coming.

There are a lot of problems with this movie, but all-in-all, I liked it. I was certainly riveted to the screen. One is asked to suspend belief, and accept the premise that the state and federal government would turn loose a maniac criminal after only 12 weeks of treatment - just meds, no psychotherapy even. Then we wonder how "the unforeseeable" was not foreseen. These guys, a combo of FBI and police, along with the drug company goons, are supposed to be professionals! On the other hand, Liotta does a fabulous job of making his character a sympathetic figure, especially after the super violent beginning. I always like Willem DeFoe, and he is excellent as the idealistic doctor who wants to make a positive contribution to human life. There are some excellent action scenes and the suspense is chilling. The love interest works and Teresa, (played by Michelle Rodriguez), is adorable but just savvy enough to be credible in the role of former sociopath's girlfriend.

"Control" was released late in 2004, but it garnered almost no coverage. I first saw the title while looking for a good rental. This will never be a classic, but it does provide interesting entertainment. I am not sorry at my choice, especially given the dearth of good films around.
JANA

A killer sentenced to death, but is given a second chance at life if he agrees to be a guinea pig for a pharmaceutical company that wants to test its new magic bill that controls aggression. So, the killer is released and given the pill, but told that if he is recognized the project is over and he goes back to death row.

The acting is good, the story is pretty solid, but I had one problem with the story. A research company that is testing out a top secret new drug that could make millions would have enough sense to know that they can't have a supposedly executed killer walking around the city unnoticed. His execution was suppose to be front page news, how can he just blend into normal society? Still, worth seeing.

CONTROL poses the question of whether or not a sociopathic criminal can do a complete turnaround and become a useful member of society? Perhaps so if this conversion is chemically induced. That's the premise of this well done thriller. Ray Liotta does a smashup job as a convicted killer whose execution is staged in order for him to become a guinea pig in an experiment by Willem Dafoe (who is excellent as well). ALthough initially the drug doesn't seem to be working, in time, Liotta expresses remorse over the shooting of a young innocent bystander who subsequently became little more than a child after the brain injury. Convinced of Liotta's redemption, Dafoe releases him and gets him started on a whole new life, including a romance with his spunky co-worker (well played by Michelle Rodriguez.) Of course, it isn't long before external factors seem to propel Liotta into a life of crime. This includes the vengeful brother of the man Liotta wounded.
Crisply directed by Tim Hunter and propelled by Liotta's performance, CONTROL has some surprising twists at the end that answer the question of the conversion.

If it were possible, I'd give this 4 1/2 stars. I love this genre, and this film was a real surprise. Very solid story and acting. Willem Dafoe plays a doctor working for a pharmaceutical company that is trying to do research on a new anti-psychotic drug. Ray Liotta is a killer on Death Row with seemingly no remorse at all for his victims, one who he's left not dead, but brain damaged. He is about to be given a lethal injection, when he is offered a chance to participate in this drug study. Surprisingly, it is not an easy choice for him, but one he does choose reluctantly. With the care of his doctor (Dafoe), he takes the medication, and talks of his life and childhood (he saw a boyfriend of his mother's callously strangle her to death when he was 10 years old).
Finally after taking the medication for awhile, Liotta is allowed to re-enter society, where he gets a job at a car wash and he and one of the other workers (Michelle Rodriguez) fall in love.
I will stop here, but suffice it to say that you will not guess the plot of this. It is very smart. Definitely will keep you entertained and provoke thought; recommended highly.

Ray Liotta is a crazed killer who could be classified as a murderous psychopath with absolutely no conscience. He mows down people without a blink of an eye. We see him going to death row to be executed. The movie kind of reminds me of la femme nikkita then, because he gets a choice. If he wants to live, albeit a new identity, he is to be put on a seratin based experimental medicine to determine if violent people can be turned into compassionate, functional citizens, remove the evil tendencies and live a normal life. Well you can watch and see what happens, but in my opinion Liotta took this character from despicable to having me actually feel for him. Willem Dafoe was excellent also.

I was really anxious to see this because both Ray Liotta and Willem Dafoe are in it, and I think they are great actors. They both are really good in this movie.
Ray Liotta plays a death-row inmate who is given a second chance by a Pharmicuetical company, who has their scientist played by Willem Dafoe, give Liotta drugs to chance his personality and turn him from being a criminal into being a "nice guy".

The story line and script were really great. I thought the concept of the story was fascinating. This story would have made an outstanding psycological thriller. But it was kind of a cross between a thriller and an action movie.

The only thing that got to me was the age differences between the actors and actresses. For example, Ray Liotta is 50. Michelle Rodriguez is 27, and I felt to young to play his love interest. I hate when movies do this. Maybe they were trying to appeal to the younger male crowd and not only did they add the car chases, but they chose a young actress. But it really sticks out like a sore thumb, especially when I thought everything else about the movie was so good.

Control stars Ray Liotta, Willem Dafoe, and Michelle Rodriguez. Control is one of those movies that hardly anyone knows about yet. It's very strange that a movie this good was not talked about more before it's release. It's one of those rare movies that leave you thinking, why have I never heard of this damn movie?

Ray Liotta plays a violent sociopath convicted of murder. This performance shows Ray Liotta at his darkest, craziest, and most violent. Liotta plays this character so convincing that it is just plain shocking. He always plays a psycho perfect, but this is by far his best ever.

Control moves at a real steady pace. The story gets more interesting as the film goes on, and after a while you find yourself right in the middle of a damn good thriller. Liotta has great chemistry with all of the other characters, but it's most evident with Dafoe. There is a scene where Ray Liotta is actually crying while Dafoe is hugging him.

Every aspect of this movie is impressive and the only flaw is in the story. So if you want to see Ray Liotta give a powerhouse acting performance, or you just want to see a remarkable thriller, this is the movie to see.

i was a little surprised to see that a movie this good hadn't been advertised more. awesome acting all around, especially from ray liotta and michelle rodriguez. the plot was completely original from what i can tell. i haven't seen another movie where this has been done before.

this is how it goes, a man gets a second chance after being put to death, but has to participate in a behavioral modification drug research program. his attempts at escaping are cut short, but after proving himself as nonviolent, they release him into the general public with taking their precautions of course, but then his past comes to haunt him. there was a nice couple of twists and an awesome but sad way of finishing it up. i am not going to spoil that. just take a look at this movie if you get the chance.