Control>

It's no coincidence that early in "Control," a biopic about Joy Division's Ian Curtis, there's a sign on the singer's wall that reads "Jim Morrison 1943-1971." Like the Doors' legend, Curtis, who committed suicide at the age of 23 in 1980, was a poet disguised as a rocker.

Unlike Morrison, who let his art take him on strange journeys (and finally overtake him), Curtis was a tightly wound tortured soul unable to come to grips with the paradoxes in his life.

Based on a memoir by Curtis' wife Deborah (Samantha Morton), "Control" begins with Curtis (Sam Riley in a quietly measured performance) as a schoolboy in a town outside Manchester, England.

When his friends need a singer for their band, he joins, giving him a creative outlet, but as Joy Division gains success, he finds himself torn between his two worlds. He begins to suffer from epileptic seizures and is forced to take an array of medicines to treat the condition. Then he falls for a Belgian woman named Annik Honoré (Alexandra Maria Lara), and Curtis can't leave either her or his wife.

Unlike most biopics that seek to enshrine their subjects, Anton Corbijn's "Control" - which was shot in color and turned into a wonderfully striking black and white - stays within its story. Because it's not judgmental, moralizing or quick with facile answers, it becomes all the more poignant and fascinating.

Older films>

"That's one thing about our Harry, he doesn't play any favorites. Harry hates everybody." That's how Clint Eastwood's character was described in the original "Dirty Harry," which Don Siegel directed in 1971. Well, some of us like all five of the "DH" films, which is why "Dirty Harry Ultimate Collector's Edition" with a ton of extras is a cool box set.

Two other older films of note are the 1999 "The Red Violin" with Joshua Bell's violin performance of John Corigliano's beautiful score, and "Diva," Jean-Jacques Beineix stylish cult film about a reclusive opera singer.

New films>

Watching Asia Argento as an ambitious prostitute in Olivier Assayas' oddball thriller "Boarding Gate" is a lot more provocative than the hit-and-miss comedies out. Will Ferrell does another sports farce that has its yuks - "Semi-Pro," about a '70s basketball team - but is lame at times. "Meet the Spartans," a movie parody movie, has a few laughs, as does "The Onion Movie," which is from the humor newspaper and Web site. (The headlines are usually the best thing - same in the movie.) "Vince Vaughn's Wild West Comedy Show: 30 Days & 30 Nights," a documentary about a month-long bus tour of concert halls in 30 American cities by Vaughn and four little-known comedians, gets tiresome but has moments of humor and warmth.

TV>

Here are three TV cable shows always worth checking out. "Weeds - Season Three" is the wacky Showtime comedy with Mary-Louise Parker as a pot-dealing suburban mom. "Rescue Me - The Complete Fourth Season," featuring Denis Leary's firefighter Tommy, gets crazier every season on the FX drama. "Brotherhood - The Complete Second Season" continues the tale of two brothers (Jason Isaacs and Jason Clarke) on opposite sides of the law - one a gangster, one a politician.

Rob Lowman (818) 713-3687; robert.lowman@dailynews.com

out tuesday>

NEW FILMS

"Control" $28.95

"Semi-Pro" $28.98 and $34.98 for two-disc unrated edition and $39.99 for Blu-ray

"Meet the Spartans" $29.99

"Boarding Gate" $26.98

"Flawless" $26.98

"The Eye" $29.95 and $34.98 for two-disc unrated edition and $39.99 for Blu-ray

"The Onion Movie" $26.98

"Vince Vaughn's Wild West Comedy Show: 30 Days & 30 Nights - Hollywood to the Heartland" $28.98

TELEVISION

"Weeds - Season Three" $39.98

"Rescue Me - The Complete Fourth Season" $49.95

"Brotherhood - The Complete Second Season" $39.98

"Dante's Cove - Season 3" $29.95

"Dead Zone: The Final Season" $34.98

"The Andromeda Strain Miniseries" $26.98

"CHiPs - The Complete Second Season" $39.98

"Get Smart: The Complete Series" $19.95

"Mannix - The First Season" $49.99

"The Incredible Hulk - The Complete Third Season" $39.98

"The Incredible Hulk - The Complete Fourth Season" $39.98

"Meerkat Manor: The Story Begins" $19.98

"The Beast" $14.98

NEW TO BLU-RAY

"Cloverfield" $39.99

"There Will Be Blood" $39.99

"Patton" $39.98

"Bee Movie" $39.99

"Face/Off" $29.99

"Blades of Glory" $29.99

"The Eye" $39.99

"The Longest Day" $39.98

"Next" $29.99

"Battle of Britain" $39.98

"Signs" $34.99

"A Bridge Too Far" $39.98

"We Were Soldiers" $29.99

"The Untouchables - Special Collector's Edition" $29.99

"The Italian Job" $29.99

"Lara Croft - Tomb Raider" $29.99

"The Warriors - The Ultimate Director's Cut" $29.99

"Sky Captain & the World of Tomorrow" $29.99

"Shooter" $29.99

OLDER FILMS/COLLECTIONS

"Dirty Harry Ultimate Collector's Edition" $74.98 and $129.95 for Blu-Ray

"Red Violin" $26.98

"Diva - Meridian Collection" $26.98

"Houdini" $14.95

"City Slickers Collector's Edition" $14.98