A convicted killer is given a second chance at life if he is willing to take part in a behavioral modification program.
Genre: Feature Film-Action/Adventure
Rating: R
Release Date: 6-JUN-2006
Media Type: DVD
Michel D. (michelann) from WALNUT GROVE, MO Reviewed on 5/20/2016...
Better than average mostly due to the casting of Ray Liotta and Willem Dafoe! Michelle Rodriguez could have been utilized more because she is great in action movies but this film is more about the psychology and how a violent sociopath can be reformed. Saved from a lethal injection, Liotta's character thinks he has a second chance for redemption but he is not the type of human being to be reformed. Fun to see where it goes! Willem Dafoe is always interesting to watch and he is ultimately responsible for releasing this monster (Liotta) into society.
Jim W. (Bonez) from COVINGTON, WA Reviewed on 9/1/2010...
Should be called Mind Control as the drugs he took made him do a quick turnaround and tried to change his life. Great story, could have been longer.
0 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Movie Reviews
Great movie
hi | 10/19/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"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."
A movie that is good at controlling most peoples' attention
Bryan Siegbert Coe | 05/30/2006
(3 out of 5 stars)
"ray liotta a well skilled actor who is just as good as bruce willis john travolita and nicholas cage was phenomenial in this movie has he is in most of his films that are usually action and drama pack for those who have seen his popular film work should check out goodfellas one of his best film turbulence and unlawful entry this movie has everything from action to drama and a slighty sprinkle of comedy in the mix Michelle Rodriguez the young lady who was vin disel girlfriend from the fast and the furious was good in this movie has well she often plays tough girl roles in him film watch girlfight which made in her star in hollywood in control she said me a show of her i have not yet seen she seem more calm and compassionate than usual she was ray l's girlfriend the movie plot is like this ray l was a former killer expert who most noteably crime was shooting a male in the head which cause he to be mentally challenge for the rest of his for that crime he committed, caused him to go to prison to get some special treatment for his extremely violent behavior in murdering others while in prison he meets a psychologist who played in spiderman he helped him took his life around for the better in order for ray l life to be good he must take pills to keep him harmless without the pills he is the terminator's brother after a while the pills caused ray to have remorse for his crimes and the prison sees that he learn from his felonies and decided to give him a second chance by giving her parole put he was not all the way out of prison ray would be on house arrest for a while so the doctor and cops see if he really mean what he said about being a different man and had no interested in being a villian a little later he meets with the female that i mention who played his girlfriend now i thogutht that this match would not work in the movie but they both surprisingly good chemistry they did activities such as good to the car wash and went on a date to the carnival but their relationship ended quickly because of the man that he shot in the head had a brother who was out to get him so he had to leave her alone so she would not get into any serious danger he met with the doctor who gave him a passport to fly far away so he would get caught by the prison because they still thought he was a murderer but the doctor knew that he change but he did not change because of the pills which would end up being fake candy pills the dr who was now his friend almost consider as a brother said he changed because he wanted to before ray did not get from away because the cops and detectives found him and the dr exchanging their fellows they killed ray l which broke the doctor's heart because he lost his son and now his brother the movie did ended okay with the doctor and his wife working together in child pscyhology to help children with any pscyhological problems they had overall a very good movie that has to be watch at least two times to understand what the movie is really about i would put this movie in the top three or four best matches of 2004 next to Jamie Foxx in Ray, Sorry Haters Catwomen, and Spiderman 2"
You can't go wrong with this movie.
Bryan Siegbert Coe | New Jersey | 10/03/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"To start off, I originally bought this movie only because it had Michelle Rodriguez in it (I'm basically in love with her). It turned out to be an awesome movie, I was actually moved by the ending (which I won't give away, but it almost made me cry).
It was kind of short, and Michelle's part in it was relatively small when compared to her other movies. I think this is the only movie where I was amazed by Ray Liotta, and William DeFoe was impressive as usual.
Well worth your time, and a perfect movie to nag your friends about who have never even heard of it when you tell them how great it is. Plus you can get it real cheap, there is no good reason not to pick this one up."
What creates or un-creates a sociopath?
Schtinky | California | 04/19/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Hardcore prisoner and unrelenting sociopath Lee Ray Olivier, (played by the fantastic Ray Liotta) is put to death by lethal injection. When he wakes up again inside the morgue, things get weird for him. Dr Michael Copeland (the fantastic Willem DaFoe), a Neuro-pharmacologist, is in the final stages of testing his newest drug - on humans. Oliver is offered a chance to participate or go through his execution for real. He agrees, but he's far from the perfect patient.
At first he's atrociously violent, attacking guards and attempting escapes, but gradually the drug begins to work. Oliver's tattoos are removed, preparing him for the final test - a normal life in public. Dr. Copeland's dream is to take a violent offender and turn them into an average, everyday Joe. Copeland makes sure Oliver knows, "You're only alive because of me." Gradually, Oliver calms down and begins to exhibit rational thought.
Released to work and live in a normal environment while wearing an ankle bracelet, Oliver meets Teresa (Michelle Rodriquez) and they become friendly. But, can a sociopath actually become an empathetic person? Can a conscience develop if it wasn't present before? This movie has quite a few twists to it that will leave you on the edge of your seat. Ray Liotta's transformation from the murderous killer to the pacifist is a landmark in his acting career, one of his best performances ever.
While not as violent or graphic as 'Strangeland', another film of experimental pacification of monstrous personality disorders, 'Control' is still a very good movie. My primary complaint is that the DVD did not have English subtitles for the hearing impaired, so crank the volume up. Enjoy!