24 Hour Party People (2002)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Michael Winterbottom

Writer:

Frank Cottrell Boyce (screenplay)

Release Date:

5 April 2002 (UK)

Genre:

Biography | Comedy | Drama | Music

Tagline:

The unbelievably true story of one man, one movement, the music and madness that was Manchester.

Plot:

In 1976, Tony Wilson sets up Factory Records and brings Manchester's music to the world.

Plot Keywords:

Manchester | Factory Records | 1976 | Sex Pistols | Drugs

Awards:

1 win & 12 nominations

Cast

Steve Coogan	...	Tony Wilson
John Thomson	...	Charles
Nigel Pivaro	...	Actor at Granada
Lennie James	...	Alan
Shirley Henderson	...	Lindsay
Martin Hancock	...	Howard
Mark Windows	...	Johnny Rotten
Paddy Considine	...	Rob
John Simm	...	Bernard
Ralf Little	...	Hooky
Dave Gorman	...	John the Postman
Andy Serkis	...	Martin
Danny Cunningham	...	Shaun
Paul Popplewell	...	Paul
Ron Cook	...	Derek

Also Known As:

Madchester (UK) (working title)
Twenty Four Hour Party People (UK) (DVD title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong language, drug use and sexuality.

Runtime:

117 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:R(A) | Germany:16 | South Africa:16LV | USA:TV-MA (cable rating) | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Brazil:18 | Canada:14A | Finland:K-15 | France:U | Iceland:12 | Japan:R-15 | Mexico:C | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:15 | Spain:18 | Sweden:11 | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Chester, Cheshire, England, UK

Company:

Baby Cow Productions

Trivia:

Ralf Little plays Peter Hook in the film. Caroline Aherne, the writer of "The Royle Family" (1998), which Little also stars in, was once married to Hook.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The film shows Ian Curtis having hanged himself while watching the Werner Herzog film "Stroszek". He actually hanged himself after he finished watching the film, and while listening to the Iggy Pop album "The Idiot".

Quotes:

[first lines]
Tony Wilson: Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's the latest craze sweeping the Pennines, and I've got to be honest, I'd rather be sweeping the Pennines right now.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Control (2007)

Soundtrack:

Wimoweh

great mocku-docu-rockumentary

This movie is quite hyperbolic about the Manchester scene which is portrayed with so much style, energy, humor, and gutty performances, that even if you weren't a fan of Joy Division & Happy Mondays, this particular musical revolution is extolled on a par with Memphis early 50's, the whole of UK 1963-65, San Francisco 1966-67, or Austin 1972-74. I wasn't a fan of those Manchester bands, but I really enjoyed all of the music in this film. And Steve Coogan's performance and the structure of his charismatic part are wonderful. And very funny.

Like "SLC Punk" and movies like "Rude Boy" and the Sex Pistols movies, "24 Hour Party People" captures the anger of the times and incredible energy of that socio-musical upheaval, and ultimately the sadness at the inevitable passing of a bright moment in popmusic history. When Coogan/Wilson brags about the birth of the rave culture in his club in his beloved city, taking credit for another major movement, I didn't feel his pride or excitement, only that sense of sadness at the techno-evolution of punk...