IMDb > Control (2004)
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Control (2004) -- A sociopath on death row is given a chance to live if he agrees to take part in a chemical behavioral modification program.
Control (2004) -- Trailerfan.com - Trailer (Flash)

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Overview

User Rating:
6.2/10   3,314 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 3% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Todd Slavkin (written by) &
Darren Swimmer (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for Control on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
31 March 2005 (Portugal) more
Genre:
Tagline:
Old habits die hard... more
Plot:
A sociopath on death row is given a chance to live if he agrees to take part in a chemical behavioral modification program. | add synopsis
Awards:
1 nomination more
NewsDesk:
Liotta Gets 'Control'
 (From WENN. 2 September 2003)

User Comments:
Could have been something... more (24 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Ray Liotta ... Lee Ray Oliver

Willem Dafoe ... Dr. Michael Copeland

Michelle Rodriguez ... Teresa

Stephen Rea ... Dr. Arlo Penner
Polly Walker ... Barbara Copeland

Kathleen Robertson ... Eden Ross

Tim DeKay ... Bill Caputo
Mark Pickard ... Gary Caputo

Stewart Alexander ... Powell
Glenn Wrage ... Gibson
Ivan Kaye ... Norton
Mark Letheren ... Villard
Anthony Warren ... Brock
Raicho Vasilev ... Vlas
Mac McDonald ... Warden
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Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated R for strong violence and language.
Runtime:
Brazil:90 min | Argentina:90 min | Germany:101 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Filming Locations:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
One tattoo in the opening credits shows the name "Karsen". This is the name of Ray Liotta' s child in real life. more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
4 out of 5 people found the following comment useful.
Could have been something..., 1 January 2007
5/10
Author: K_Todorov from Bulgaria

"Control" had a good premise and idea. With Ray Liota playing a character sentenced to death but who is given a chance for freedom if he participates in an experiment to suppress his violent urges. What could have been an interesting character study about redemption ultimately became a sub-par often melodramatic movie that failed to deliver even the slightest bit of inside on the subject.

Liota stars as Lee Ray Oliver a murderer sentenced to death but given a second chance if he participates in a chemical behavioral modification program run by Dr. Michael Copeland (played by William Defoe). The movie's first problem becomes quite apparent after a short while, Liota's character isn't portrayed as a truly evil person, yes he is shown killing people but only members of the mafia, in fact his only civilian victim doesn't even die. Which from the viewer's perspective partly ruins the motivation for the treatment Lee Ray is undertaking.

The movie's plot feels confusing not because its hard to understand but because it doesn't know what direction to take. There are actually several sub-plots in it all of which after the final scene feel unfinished, and while some could have played a role in showing Liota's character new found compassion, rather ineffectively if I might add, there is the one dealing with Defoe's character that doesn't have any sort of impact on the central plot. The movie's direction does nothing to cloud the badly written plot, with a heavy dose of mediocrity it feels like you're watching a made for TV production.

The only reason this is worth watching is the acting. With some decent to good performances by Liota, Defoe and Rodriguez (who plays Lee Ray's girlfriend in one of the sub-plots). Regrettably the supporting cast fails to keep on their level, making a lot of the supporting characters annoying or just simply badly acted.

In the end "Control" fails to impress or use it's interesting ala "Clockwork Orange" premise. Giving us a final product whose melodramatic ending doesn't succeed in achieving any sort of emotional response from the viewer.

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Message Boards

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Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Unfortunately overlooked pmccann847
How was Michelle Rodriquez? nomad_the_smurf
So you knew the whole time Tonker
The End?? fernandafranca
Predictably Underrated mangopork
who was the actress playing Willem Dafoe's ex wife? jimboluck
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