Product Description

The angry scarred and heavily tattooed lee ray oliver is strapped down to a guerney for execution by lethal injection. While pronounced dead by the prison doctor lee ray is secretly given the choice of staying alive under one condition: an experimental treatment that will cure his muderous ways. Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 06/27/2006 Starring: Ray Liotta Willem Dafoe Run time: 98 minutes Rating: R

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #35242 in DVD
• Brand: Sony
• Released on: 2005-02-15
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Formats: AC-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: French
• Dubbed in: French, Spanish
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: 1.00 pounds
• Running time: 99 minutes

From the Back Cover
Ray Liotta ("Goodfellas") and Willem Dafoe ("Spider-Man 2") lead this all-star cast as two men from opposite worlds trying to come to terms with their troubled past. Liotta plays Lee Ray Oliver, a violent sociopath who is granted a second chance at life when Dr. Copeland (Dafoe), a pioneering scientist, offers him an experimental behavioral drug that promises to suppress his violent nature. When Lee Ray's newfound life begins, he is continually haunted by his murderous past. Searching for redemption, he falls in love with Teresa, his beautiful yet cautious co-worker played by Michelle Rodriguez ("S.W.A.T.," "Girlfight"). Life begins to take on new meaning until the experimental drug starts triggering side effects and Lee Ray's criminal past comes back to life. Will he kill again? Or will he finally gain control?

Customer Reviews

Great movie
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.

LITTLE KNOWN, HAUNTING MOVIE
This is a movie that went largely unnoticed and has been bumbing around for quite some time. Ray Liotta stars in this gripping thriller as Lee Ray, a sociopathic killer serving time on death row. He is secretly given a rare second chance when the brilliant Dr. Miles Copeland (Willem Dafoe) offers to use him as a test subject for a new drug designed to squelch violent tendencies. Lee agrees, and they go through the motions of lethal injection, and the former criminal assumes a new life with a new identity. Soon, however, things start to go horribly awry; Lee starts to become haunted by his violent past and doesn't know if he can maintain his control.

Liotta is wonderful in this film giving one of his strongest performances since Goodfellas. Co-Stars Steven Rea and Michelle Rodriguez as Lee's girlfriend. A nice little psychological thriller. The DVD is in 1.85 aspect widescreen and features one short making of feature and trailer. Worth a rent at least.

A New Twist On Pygmalion
The Pygmalion myth of radical transformation takes on a whole new meaning in Director Tim Hunter's film "Control." Modern pharmacology is the catalyst which turns violent career criminal and sociopath Lee Ray Olivier, (Ray Liotta), into a relatively normal human being, who understands the difference between right and wrong, and is capable of feeling remorse. Consider the implications if this kind of medication, proven effective, could be made available in some distant future. How would this effect violent crime?

Mr. Oliver believes he is being executed by lethal injection for his crimes. He shouts four-letter epithets at the witnesses as the fluid enters his bloodstream. When he awakens, however, he is not in Hell - he is alive, lying on a slab at the city morgue. Short and sweet - he is told that, if he is willing to be a test subject for a new medication, he could have a second chance at life. Otherwise, the execution will continue right there, in the morgue, immediately. The little yellow pills alter the brains chemistry, suppress violent tendencies and reduce aggression. What's he got to lose?

Dr. Miles Copeland, (William DeFoe), is a neuropharmacologist and the designer of the miracle drug he believes, if taken regularly, with appropriate supervision, can turn a brutal sociopath into an average citizen. There's lots of explosive violence, (Liotta is a master at portraying rage), until his brain chemistry is finally altered. Then the noticeable difference in the man is mind-boggling.

Phase two of the experiment has Oliver out on the street, with an apartment and job of his own, a monitoring device locked on his ankle, camera's in every room, and a surveillance van outside the front door. Through a series of "unforeseeable events," he is forced to run, although his heart and soul are with the program. I don't want to give anything away...so I will stop here. But there are some twists and turns that even I did not see coming.

There are a lot of problems with this movie, but all-in-all, I liked it. I was certainly riveted to the screen. One is asked to suspend belief, and accept the premise that the state and federal government would turn loose a maniac criminal after only 12 weeks of treatment - just meds, no psychotherapy even. Then we wonder how "the unforeseeable" was not foreseen. These guys, a combo of FBI and police, along with the drug company goons, are supposed to be professionals! On the other hand, Liotta does a fabulous job of making his character a sympathetic figure, especially after the super violent beginning. I always like Willem DeFoe, and he is excellent as the idealistic doctor who wants to make a positive contribution to human life. There are some excellent action scenes and the suspense is chilling. The love interest works and Teresa, (played by Michelle Rodriguez), is adorable but just savvy enough to be credible in the role of former sociopath's girlfriend.

"Control" was released late in 2004, but it garnered almost no coverage. I first saw the title while looking for a good rental. This will never be a classic, but it does provide interesting entertainment. I am not sorry at my choice, especially given the dearth of good films around.
JANA