Tony Grebell
Because his brilliant, blunt-mouthed, smart-ass CIA character in Charlie Wilson's War is highly amusing, Philip Seymour Hoffman is considered a slam-dunk Best Supporting Actor nominee. But Toby Kebbell, a 25 year-old British actor, does the exact same routine in Control -- i.e., playing a brilliant, blunt-mouthed, smart-ass band manager named Rob Gretton -- and nobody has said jack squat.
(far left) Toby Kebbell as Rob Gretton in Anton Corbijn's Control
Gebbell's version is arguably more entertaining than Hoffman's, and he delivers a bit more humanity and soul in the process...and Hollywood handicappers haven't so much as mentioned the guy. So I'm mentioning him. Here's an mp3 clip of Kebbell doing his here-I-am bit with the Joy Division members.
I should have brought up Gebbell a couple of months ago, not that anyone would have paid the slightest attention. I admit he's got a dorky-sounding name that's hard to remember (I had to check his IMDB page three times to get it straight), and it should be spelled like "pebble" instead of "Gebbell." Perhaps with the Control screeners finally going out...who knows? At least Kebbell will get some work out of it. Maybe.
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on December 11, 2007 at 10:20 AM
comment #1
actionman
says ...
It's funny...I have had this movie sitting in my apartment and I just don't ever seem to have enough enthusiasm to watch it. I know nothing about Joy Division or the band members, so it will be a movie-only kinda thing for me when I get around to watching it. I'm almost afraid that I've read too much hype about it to go into the viewing with an objective mind. But from the trailers, the cinematography alone makes the film worth checking out so I will get to it soon, maybe this weekend. But I'd rather watch any number of this years award season movies twice before I see this one. Maybe I'll regret saying this after I finally see Control, but there is something about the film (again, judging from the trailers only) that seems...I don't know...too...too much...too much of what I'm not sure...
Posted by actionman
at December 11, 2007 11:36 AM
comment #2
robbiefantastic
says ...
actionman.....i think that is one of the dumbest things i've ever read.....
Posted by robbiefantastic
at December 11, 2007 11:52 AM
comment #3
Aguirre
says ...
as someone who LOVES joy division, i found this movie to be well-acted but facile, overlong, and entirely run of the mill as far as biopics go.
Posted by Aguirre
at December 11, 2007 11:54 AM
comment #4
JHRussell
says ...
I don't exactly live in the sticks, but this one never made it to a cineplex near me...I have it saved on Netflix, but who knows when the DVD will ship to mere mortals like me...
Posted by JHRussell
at December 11, 2007 11:58 AM
comment #5
gruver1
says ...
Wells to actionman: You've got a screw loose. Just pop it in and watch it, for Chrissake.
Posted by gruver1
at December 11, 2007 12:00 PM
comment #6
Walter Sobchak
says ...
I find that I agree with Aguirre on this point.
And how is it that we are four posts in and no one has started jacking off about how "The Wire" is the single greatest thing to ever happen to the human race?
Posted by Walter Sobchak
at December 11, 2007 12:01 PM
comment #7
Walter Sobchak
says ...
I should point out that "Control" is showing for $3 at the Fairfax Theater right now and even for someone like me who didn't think it was the end-all be-all, it's well worth it for that.
(if you live in L.A., that is)
Posted by Walter Sobchak
at December 11, 2007 12:06 PM
comment #8
actionman
says ...
actionman.....i think that is one of the dumbest things i've ever read....."
Why Robbie? Why? Because I hadn't heard of this band before seeing a trailer for the film and this sort of movie may not be my cup of tea exactly? So for that reason, my statement is dumb, ha? Pull your head out of your ass. Seriously. This year has yielded some of the best films of the decade, and I'd love to watch No Country, Diving Bell, Into the Wild, Jesse James, and Things We Lost in the Fire again.
And Wells...a "screw loose?" don't even get me started. I know how much you loved the film, and believe me, I will see the film, but the immediate interest level is just not there. I love exposing myself to as many different films and genres as possible, but I'm just taking my time getting to this movie. And it's possible I'll love it.
Posted by actionman
at December 11, 2007 12:28 PM
comment #9
K. Bowen
says ...
Jeff,
Great. F---ing. Choice.
But the most loaded category, as usual, is Supporting Actor. I love that performance.
And see it on the big screen, if you have any choice whatsoever.
Posted by K. Bowen
at December 11, 2007 12:38 PM
comment #10
MiraJeffAICN
says ...
Mira to Gruver: Wells, I agree, Kebbell was great in Control. If you like him so much, you should really check him out as Paddy Considine's mentally-challenged brother in Dead Man's Shoes.
Posted by MiraJeffAICN
at December 11, 2007 12:38 PM
comment #11
Kristopher Tapley
says ...
Here here!
Posted by Kristopher Tapley
at December 11, 2007 12:43 PM
comment #12
the king
says ...
Would love to check it out. I'm SOL until DVD though. It will never run around the Bible Belt.
Posted by the king
at December 11, 2007 1:20 PM
comment #13
MAGGA
says ...
Count me in as one of the Joy Division fans severely underwhelmed by this film. After I saw it I read an article about Ian Curtis, and that perspective was so much more entertaining and reminded me of what a film this could have been. Curtis is a fascinating man but this felt like a run-of-the-mill domestic drama to me, with the music and appeal of Joy Division placed in the background. I know you are supposed to see a film for what it is and not what it could have been, and I had been warned by friends in advance, but the HE endorsement made me expect something special, which this film, to me, was not.
Posted by MAGGA
at December 11, 2007 1:30 PM
comment #14
WillR
says ...
Kebell was amazing in this film. As was Riley and Morton. Somehow I envision this film being the hip choice that some of the older Academy voters just won't give a shit about.
Watch Dead Man's Shoes to see that this isn't a one off from Kebbell. Such a shame that Hollywood consistently turn to planks like Orlando Bloom when Riley and Kebbell would bring so much more to a part.
Posted by WillR
at December 11, 2007 2:19 PM
comment #15
rcpweiner
says ...
Jimmy Fallon played the role a whole lot worse in Almost Famous.
Posted by rcpweiner
at December 11, 2007 2:49 PM
comment #16
Dan Revill
says ...
The Wire is the greatest entertainment ever. Suck it Walter! ;-)
Posted by Dan Revill
at December 11, 2007 3:45 PM
comment #17
BurmaShave
says ...
I would never normally say this, and I hate myself for doing so, but the film is online, in really good condition. It needs to be seen. It's going in my collection for sure when the disc hits, so I feel it evens out. Slap the cuffs on me.
Posted by BurmaShave
at December 11, 2007 3:58 PM
comment #18
siowafc
says ...
I'm dying, dying, dying to see this film, if only it would expand beyond 27 theatres.
Posted by siowafc
at December 11, 2007 4:13 PM
comment #19
JB Moore
says ...
Man, I need to check out DEAD MAN'S SHOES. Kebbell was great in CONTROL. Loved the response when the guy asked him about his money: "It's in my fuck-off pocket!"
Oh, and Paddy Constadine portrayed Gretton in 24-Hr. Party People. Interesting.
Posted by JB Moore
at December 11, 2007 5:45 PM