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:

Factory Records | Sex | 1976 | Drugs | Granada TV

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:

Peter Hook from New Order described the film as "A film about the biggest c**t in Manchester, played by the second biggest".

Goofs:

Factual errors: The Haçienda's last night of operation wasn't a rave night as seen in the film. It was actually a performance by the English space rock band Spiritualized. The building was used for two parties after the club officially closed.

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 "King of the Hill: 24 Hour Propane People (#10.12)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

Ever Fallen In Love With Someone You Shoudn't've

Worth multiple viewings and a little homework

I get the general sense from reading some of the reviews that people didn't like this movie because it didn't provide any instant gratification or personal meaning. That's probably true for people who don't know Joy Division, New Order, or the Happy Mondays, but I think it's totally unfair to discredit this film on a basis of a lack of prior knowledge. Many great films and novels aren't great because you get them on the first try, and I think that this movie follows the same path. If you didn't like it the first time, take a look at an old Tony Wilson interview or a concert tape of Joy Division and you will instantly see the quality production and acting that went into this film. Ian Curtis/Joy Division are portrayed with an eerily haunting accuracy (down to the instruments they play, which are rumoured to be the originals from the late 1970s) and you can tell that the cast really did their homework. The concert scenes are spectacularly energetic, the sets (especially the Hacienda) are ripped right out of the time period. Comic relief isn't overlooked, as the dry humour of Steve Coogan and the rest of the cast is pursued to the dime. The unscripted dialogue is also quite good, which is another indication of the actors' homework. This movie is worth the time: it details a very important time and place in pop music history that is often overlooked in the wake of much larger, more commercialized scenes. Rave and post-punk may be fading today, but one need only take a look at the charts to see its influence. Go out and get this movie, learn a little about it, and you will be impressed.