24 Hour Party People (2002)

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 Fantasy Records and brings Manchester's music to the world.

Plot Keywords:

Male Frontal Nudity | Time For Title | Female Nudity | Title Based On Song | Dance Music

Awards:

1 win & 12 nominations

Cast

Steve Coogan	...	Tony Wilson
John Thomson	...	Charles (Granada TV producer)
Nigel Pivaro	...	Actor at Granada
Lennie James	...	Alan Erasmus
Shirley Henderson	...	Lindsay Wilson
Martin Hancock	...	Howard DeVoto
Mark Windows	...	Johnny Rotten
Paddy Considine	...	Rob Gretton
John Simm	...	Bernard Sumner
Ralf Little	...	Peter Hook
Dave Gorman	...	John the Postman
Andy Serkis	...	Martin Hannett
Danny Cunningham	...	Shaun Ryder
Paul Popplewell	...	Paul Ryder
Ron Cook	...	Derek Ryder

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) | 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:

Joy Division and New Order bass player, Peter Hook, was meant to have a cameo role in the film, playing a man who crashes his car after being hit by poisoned pigeons. Unfortunately, on the morning of the shoot, the film makers realized that they had no insurance for "real" musicians.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Ian Curtis' first epileptic seizure did not occur onstage, as in the film, but in the car on the way home from a Joy Division gig. It is also shown as occurring after the band composed 'She's Lost Control', a song that reflected upon Curtis' disease.

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 Coffee and Cigarettes (2003)

Soundtrack:

Kinky Afro

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...