Customer Reviews

24 Hour Party People [VHS]

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(24)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

This is a really good movie with an excellent excellent screenplay. The movie begins with the birth of punk, when a small roomful of people were fortunate enough to catch the Sex Pistols when they first came out, changing the course of music, and ends with the death of acid. As Tony Wilson puts it in the film, it is the "story of Manchester," that begins when a group of young and idealistic local boys decide to screw London and its record companies and start producing their own records out of Manchester, and boy, has music history benefited from this decision. It's interesting to note that as these young lads on the forefront of the music scene in Manchester began to age, they become less idealistic as they were in their youth, and more acknowledging of reality and its limits. My only complaint is that I wish the movie could have had more on Joy Division and New Order, than on the Happy Mondays. Why did Tony Wilson ever sign a band that came in last place in Manchester's Battle of the Bands??? The casting for this movie is outstanding, as well.

Two big thumbs up.

P.S. I don't know why they used the cover that they did for the DVD. It really has nothing to do with the film.

Michael Winterbottom certainly had no way to go but up after the dreadful "The Claim." And so he does more than make up for it with the fiendishly inventive and entertaining, "24 Hour Party People."
"24HPP" is based on the real life of Tony Wilson a Granada television personality (he hosted Britain's "Wheel of Fortune") who also had a real talent for scouting, producing shows for and recording new and talented bands like New Order, Joy Division and the Sex Pistols in Manchester, England circa 1971-1994. He was also a club owner who had a lot to do with the invention of the current DJ/Rave scene.
What makes this film so enjoyable is the tact that Winterbottom has adopted to tell Wilson's story: Wilson emcees his life both personal and professional in as droll and dry-witted, British middle class/bangers and mash way as possible. It's a hoot.
Along the way we are introduced to a myriad of 80's bands and their music mostly through actual live footage of the bands themselves. But it is Wilson himself as portrayed by Steve Coogan who is the revelation here. He's smart about music and his career but dumb about the realities of the music business. He's very much in love with his wife but doesn't hesitate to take advantage of the favors of music groupies. He wears suits, dress shirts and overcoats to meetings with his rowdy bands, who wear jeans,torn tee-shirts and make-up and sport scowls of miss-apprehension and distrust until Wilson speaks of his love of their music.
"24 Hour Party People" transcends it's 80's roots and becomes universal through the sheer joy, passion and love that Wilson and Winterbottom obviously feel for this music and it's milieu that has as much conviction and reverence for it's subject than do "Amadeus" or "Jail House Rock."

What a terrific film this is! The U.K.'s most eclectic filmmaker turns his gaze this time back to the late Seventies and early Eighties for '24 Hour Party People', a unique docu-drama look at the music scene in Manchester at the time. Tony Wilson and his Factory Records ruled the scene with such groups as Joy Division/New Order, Happy Mondays and others. This is a nostalgic, funny and fascinating look back at this period. Every element of the film is first rate especially Steve Coogan as the amazingly ambitious TonyWilson the real stand out. Needless to say the soundtrack is excellent. Even if you're not a real fan of this music, you will like this film.

Ever since I first got into DJing and the club scene, I have always known of the legendary Hacienda nightclub of Manchester. This movie is pretty much the history of that nightclub and it's founder, Tony Wilson. Actor Steve Coogan plays the role of Wilson as we see the rise and fall of his fame through both the Hacienda and his record label, Factory Records. What I also found fascinating about this movie is the portrayal of the origins of groups like Joy Division, New Order, and Happy Mondays. It gives a pretty good look at how the Manchester scene was back when Chicago was living it up with the Wharehouse, Music Box, and Power Plant. While I enjoyed the story and the comedic bits that director Michael Winterbottom and writer Frank Cottrell Boyce slipped into this, I can't see this movie appealing to anyone outside of independent movie buffs and/or nightlife history nuts like myself. I think this is definitely a movie worth seeing for anyone who liked movies like Groove or Trainspotting. I'll definitely get this on DVD when it comes out.

This movie manages to be funny, quirky and sad--all at the same time. It combines the story of Joy Division's Ian Curtis and Happy Monday's Shaun Ryder--apparently with much revisionist history along the way. The interesting combination proves to make for an entertaining and interesting film.

I was laughing from the very beginning, with the movie's re-enactment of the infamous Sex Pistols gig in Manchester. Long have I heard tales of this show and it was treat to see it in the film.

There is plenty of great acting in this movie--particular from Steve Coogan as an arrogant Tony Wilson. Plus, I enjoyed the performances of the actors playing Ian Curtis, Martin Hannett and Rob Gretton, respectively.

It might have been fun to see and hear more of New Order in the moveie, but there are plenty of stories to be told concerning the Manchester, England music scene and the folks who made the film probably had enough difficulty fitting in as much as they did.

Do be sure to check out the commentary track by the real Tony Wilson. It's a real kick, and very insightful.

Lest I forget to mention, there is some FANTASTIC music in this movie.

Keep in mind this movie isn't for the little kids!

"24 Hour Party People" is a unique docudramedy about the port city of Manchester, England, and the man who reigned over not one but two separate musical & cultural revolutions in that city, "TV personality" Tony Wilson. While it has some hilarious moments rivaling the mighty "This is Spinal Tap" in how it nails rock culture so succinctly, and some surreal touches (like the seaside funeral of Ian Curtis), it's a compelling blend of "Lipstick Traces"-style underground history with a verite, documentary feel and great characterization of Wilson's massive ego by comedian Steve Coogan. He's by turns irritating and endearing, but always ironic (and one has to be when dealing with the likes of record producer Martin Hannett and the Happy Mondays, as Wilson did). Winterbottom's film embodies a world-weary and wizened viewpoint on the whole thing by employing a loose & episodic structure as we witness Wilson/Coogan struggling to keep everything in perspective for himself and the viewer. All talk of Renaissance Florence aside, he's not the 20th century equivalent of Lorenzo de Medici (and he knows it) but you feel his half-serious attempts to justify himself and Manchester while the British economy collapses and his personal life tanks while he struggles to keep from selling out (not selling out being the only true way to succeed) and honor the vision of his incomparably influential Factory record label artists like Joy Division/New Order and the Happy Mondays. Then comes rave culture, born in his very nightclub, the Hacienda. It's quite an extraordinary story (I knew nothing about Wilson's hand in any of this, so I learned a lot while being thoroughly entertained by Coogan and the cast, who do a great job). And all the music is great of course! Highly recommended...

To call this movie a "docudrama" is probably giving too much credit to its factual accuracy. In the DVD Special Features there's an audio commentary from "The Real" Tony Wilson, which reveals that this movie is only loosely based on real events and he seems at times to be quite irked at the account of events and Steve Coogan's portrayal of him. And whilst Factory Records and the Hacienda undoubtedly played a huge part in British music and club culture, to refer to it as the "birthplace of rave" is clearly incorrect. For the uninformed fan of the Northern rave/indie/Madchester (call it what you will) scene, this movie is best enjoyed as a comedy, not a historically reliable document.

However, the recreation of the Hacienda itself is simply stunning - its visual accuracy is utterly flawless. When I was watching for the first time I had to check on the DVD cover to see if it was really filmed in 2002, because I couldn't believe it wasn't the real thing. I for one am pleased that the film didn't accurately reflect the last couple of years at the Hac, when gang infiltration made the place seedy and at times frightening. I prefer to remember it in the way it is depicted in the penultimate scene of the movie, the fictional `last night at the Hacienda'. For anyone who spent nights and early mornings on that dancefloor, this scene makes this a must-own DVD. It will bring back happy memories and a strange feeling in the pit of your stomach of yearning for something that you once had that you know you'll never quite get back. It's not real, but in a way it's better than real.

"24 Hour Party People" was among the most entertaining motion pictures released in 2002, and easily one of the most engaging and innovative films that I've seen in years. Although certainly not for everyone, if you've an interest in the music industry, the UK indie scene, and/or Factory Records (of course) then this is mandatory viewing material.

I'll not bore you with a summary of the plot...but it's no secret that there's almost as much fiction as fact in this comedic, documentary-style account of Tony Wilson and his legendary Factory record label. However, there are numerous exceptional portrayals of the central figures from Factory's sordid history, and the city of Manchester is a star in itself, functioning as the drab backdrop to the movie's colorful story.

The DVD has two featurettes - a ten minute 'behind the scenes' piece (obligatory for almost all DVD releases) and a five minute quickie about the real Tony Wilson. Neither contain particularly engrossing content but they're welcome just the same. There are eleven deleted scenes, only a couple of which are really worth a toss (ironically, the cut scene with Vini Reilly that Steve Coogan's Tony Wilson actually references in the film isn't even included). There's a photo gallery with at least 40 stills taken during the film's production, although including pictures of the real people and places depicted in the movie would have made more sense. I've not listened to the running commentary by the real Tony Wilson or his celluloid facsimile, but I understand that both are enlightening.

With the exception of the James Bond series, MGM Home Video is notorious for lacking in the special features sections of their DVD releases, so this product is actually commendable on their part. Of course, the UK DVD release of "24HPP" (complete with a Factory catalog number - FACDVD 424) is a 2-disc set packed with extras vastly superior to what's offered to us poor Yanks. So while I'd give the film five stars, the DVD rates only three, thus my average of four stars overall.

With the title of "24 Hour Party People" (A Happy Mondays song title) this film was always likely to be based on this band, and subsequently Factory Records. Admittedly New Order were my favorite band at the time, & their inclusion to me was a bonus. (The deleted scene of New Order forming from the ashes of Joy Division with new member Gillian on keyboards was important enough to be included in the film, in my opinion!).This film truly captures the spirit of the time. It is mainly based on fact, but like most films has exercised some artistic licence.
This film was never going to be a definitive guide to the Manchester music scene (i.e Charlatans UK, Inspiral Carpets (neither actually from Manchester!), The Smiths, James etc), instead it's about Factory Records, The Happy Mondays, Joy Division, & New Order; this it did excellently.

Steve Coogan is brilliant at capturing the mannerisms & essence of Tony Wilson during this period. Remember, Steve Coogan is from Manchester & witnessed the scene himself - his brother Martin Coogan was in the band "The Mock Turtles".

When I read the bio's on the Mondays I laughed, but seeing it visually explained in 24 Hour Party People is PRICELESS. Not only did these actors have striking resemblances to the musicians, they were good actors as well. The time on the film runs a little long, but when will you ever have another film directed at these music legends? The cameos were exceptional...OH, and the classic kicker of Sumner seeing Shaun for the first time - this is a must buy for any Joy Division/New Order or Happy Mondays/Manchester fan.