Ian Curtis, sans Moby!

After reporting last week about an upcoming Ian Curtis-Joy Division bio-pic produced by Moby, Filmbrain received an email from the good folks at Claraflora with some news that is significantly more encouraging.

Not only has the LA/Pittsburgh production company secured the film rights to the Ian Curtis biography Touching From a Distance, they will be working closely with Ian's widow Deborah Curtis, who will act as co-producer.

Contrasting sharply with a statement from the Moby camp, Claraflora's Todd Eckert assures that it will not be the rock and roll Shine. That's a relief. They are also in discussion with members of New Order about possible involvement, which would be wonderful.

Once again, Filmbrain would like to offer up his services as screenwriter. He's old enough, post-punk enough, and hated Shine. Though he's not from Manchester, he is from Manhattan, which is SO the Manchester of New York. (Well, maybe not, but they both begin with an M.) Claraflora, you know how to get in touch.

Does this mean the Moby project is DOA, or can we expect dueling Ians in 2005?

Comments

[Scott]

Amen, Shine was an awful little piece of manipulation, wasn't it? 24 Hour Party People was okay, though.

[FIlmbrain]

24 Hour Party People did not get the credit it deserved. Flawed, but great film. 20 years from now people will re-discover it, IMO.

[Wiley Wiggins]

Either one of these projects sounds weak, considering that Curtis' widows book was pretty bad and none of the members of New Order would speak with her for it. (I think the prevailing attitude was that Curtis' problems with his wife may have had something to do with his depression).

I thought 24 hour party people was pretty great, although I'm not really interested in the Happy Mondays.

[Marleigh]

Amen to that. The Happy Mondays were the least interesting band in the film.

And Ian did have a mistress at the time of his death, so the assumption was that there was trouble at home. Well, there was that and the impending American tour that was taxing him quite a bit.

I've only browsed the wife's book but it seems a bit maudlin, so I don't know what to expect from the movie. I'd hate to see Ian's death eclipse how great Joy Division really was.