Linkshoch Wonderful Movie

SnoReptilePlenty Memorable, crazy movie

Voxitype Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

Fleur Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

Red-Barracuda I remember back in the day I used to regularly encounter Tony Wilson via the pages of the music weeklies such as Melody Maker. On that basis, I always used to think he was a bit of an annoying, attention-seeking idiot. Well, I have to admit that this highly negative viewpoint was swept away completely once I saw 24 Hour Party People. This film made me realise, that far from being an annoyance, Wilson was a pretty overwhelmingly positive force for good as far as the British music scene went. TV journalist, record mogul, nightclub owner, he was a man of many colours and one with obvious contradictions – while he was a bit pompous, he was very good-intentioned and while he was something of a musical visionary, he was terrible at long-term planning. What's abundantly clear though, is that he was most certainly not out for personal financial gain through his ventures; his idea of allowing the bands to come and go as they pleased with no ownership attributed to his record company was very worthy and in true artistic spirit but it was also, needless to say, ultimately catastrophic. Despite doing very well for himself, Wilson seems to have been a really terrible businessman. And this is yet another reason to love the guy.The film charts the Manchester music scene from the mid 70's post-punk scene to late 80's Madchester period. It centres on Wilson's Factory Records who had many key Manchester acts on their label, including seminal bands such as Joy Division, New Order and Happy Mondays. Perhaps just as importantly, Factory also owned the Hacienda nightclub which would go on to become a place majorly associated with the rise of DJ culture and dance music. There is no doubting the importance of the Manchester music scene at the turn of the 90's and this film shows that Wilson was a huge figure in its genesis, one whose hands-off approach allowed for the music on his label to flower in the best way.Michael Winterbottom directs this with great skill. The loose approach matches the music. It's fast-paced and regularly laugh-out-loud funny. A big help here is the outstanding performance from brilliant comic actor Steve Coogan in the role of Wilson. He often breaks the fourth wall to offer valuable asides to us and generally gives out a performance that deftly combines comedy and drama expertly. There are a variety of other real characters portrayed here including Ian Curtis, Shaun Ryder and Martin Hannett; and no one lets the side down. And then of course there is a ready-made soundtrack of great tunes in which events play out in front of, from the post-punk iciness of Joy Division through to the baggy hedonism of the Happy Mondays. All of this adds up to a music biopic of a very high level indeed. Wilson was a man who definitely deserved his achievements to be celebrated in a film which is this inspiring, entertaining and hilarious.

zken You would think that Hollywood and the music business would be very close, with the executives lunching together every day in the slick restaurant scene that only LA and New York City have to offer. But you would be wrong. The evidence is that on both sides (music execs trying to make movies and tone deaf Hollywood moguls)there has been a massive failure in joining the two art forms. The one big exception is the growing body of work by Scorcese. Which brings me to this film, one of the top music movies ever made. For those of us who have followed music since the birth of rock n roll, it is particularly amazing and satisfying that it took the British to make this masterpiece about the BUSINESS of rock. Since Edison, it is a combination of business and technology that has created the music industry and led to its massive melt down, and the complete hand over to Apple. But that is another story. This film does its best to sum up why and how it has been impossible for rock and roll artists to grow their art separate from a completely insane and out of control money system that sold it down the river. The setting of this film is in the brief but fascinating Manchester music scene and this is the perfect back drop for a goofy, chaotic, and ultimately tragic tale that just never stops moving. Steve Coogan is brilliant in a once in a life time role that must have been written just for him. How else can you explain this funny, hilarious, and absolutely true picture of a music money man gone mad. I am not exaggerating that when movies were invented, they were meant for just this; social and artistic commentary that is moving, funny and absolutely unforgettable. I have seen this movie more than once, and each time I am amazed, delighted and so sad that a artistic world once so promising came to this.

Gordon-11 This film recounts the birth of a record label in Manchester, and its journey to lift Manchester as the place to be for modern music.Initially I found "24 Hour Party People" quite boring. It was probably because I was not familiar with the music of Joy Division, New Order, or the Happy Mondays. Hence, the film becomes a quasi documentary of a businessman and his drug fuelled musicians who live hedonistic lives. As I do not know the background history, I find the plot not so interesting or captivating.The parties in ""24 Hour Party People" are not the sort of parties I had in mind when I watched this film. Maybe this led to the disappointment I felt.

DVD_Connoisseur Watching "24 Hour Party People" was a nostalgic experience for me, bringing back memories of nights many moons ago. From beginning to end, the film is a genuine treat for anybody who experienced the Madchester scene or who has an appreciation for the music that came out of it.Steve Coogan's portrayal of the late, great Anthony H. Wilson is marvellously entertaining. Every scene is a joy to behold and the dialogue is hilariously true to life.The scenes around Manchester are superbly staged and there's a smörgåsbord of familiar faces in the movie. On top of this, the soundtrack and the recreation of the Hacienda's final night are too good to miss.9 out of 10. Not a perfect film but a genuine pleasure to view.