24 Hour Party People

Michael Winterbottom, UK, 2002, 117 minutes

This film is the story of Rock Impressario Tony Wilson (played by Steve Coogan of Alan Partridge fame - who he based loosely on Tony Wilson and so went full circle). Tony, a Cambridge graduate and presenter on Granada TVs pop show "What's Going On", as well as regional news programmes, witnesses the first Sex Pistols gig in Manchester and sees this as a seminal moment in pop history.

The other members of the small audience are equally affected and go on to become music producers, promoters and musicians in bands such as The Buzzcocks and Joy Division (named after the enforced prostitutes of German Second War concentration camps - a right cheery bunch!). Tony along with a few accomplices sets up a record label, Factory Records, signing Joy Division (who go on to become New Order) and a club (The Hacienda - probably the most famous dance club in the world and perhaps the most chaotically run) to bring this new music to Manchester.

The film is shot in a faux documentary style and includes many cameos of people involved in the film. Graphically depicting the music of the 70s (Joy Division), 80s (New Order and James - both on Factory) and the 90s (with the Happy Mondays) this acts as a must see for music lovers, but has enough interesting and funny bits to make it entertaining viewing for those less interested in the music but just wanting a good night out.

The soundtrack to the film is mind boggling, but Winterbottom manages to find the balance to make you actually care about the characters running jokes about mobile phones and the terrible jobs Wilson has to do as a regional television presenter to carry the chaotic finances of his dream.

An interesting, inspiring and downright funny historical document of a past musical era. Worth seeing just for the Happy Mondays journey to destruction and "turkey lurkey, chicky licky"...

Review by Stephen Brennan
Written for EUFS Programme Autumn 2003