Steve Coogan
acting very, very drunk.
 |
|
24 Hour Party
People is not a film about Tony Wilson. Nor is it meant to be a
documentary about the music scene in Manchester. It's just a film.
And a very good one.
Review by David Jackson
Tony Wilson,
for those who don't know, was the founder of Factory Records and
the famous Hacienda club in Manchester. He's also the man behind,
among others, New Order and the Happy Mondays. Not a bad CV.
The rollercoaster of musical genres begins at the Sex Pistols first
gig in 1977, and goes on to follow Wilson's involvement in the development
of Joy Division (later New Order) and the Happy Mondays.
 |
| Ralf Little
of Royal Family fame plays New Order guitarist, Peter Hook. |
While it gives
an insight into the spirit of the time, some references are historically
inaccurate.
This is not a mistake - it just doesn't matter.
Pearl Harbour isn't any less of a film because of it's factual 'flaws',
so why should this be?
And thankfully, this film isn't an advert for Tony Wilson. Although
the film portrays him as likeable at times, it also represents what
a lot of other people thought of him...
The cast list runs like a 'who's who' of British comedians - Peter
Kay (Phoenix Nights), Rob Brydon (Marion and Geoff), Dave Gorman,
and Simon Pegg among them. There's also room for a number of cameos
from people from the music scene (I'll leave you to spot them).
 |
| Paddy Considine
stars as the manager of the fictional Happy Mondays.
|
Possibly the
hardest role to play fell to Sean Harris who brilliantly depicts
Ian Curtis (lead singer of Joy Division who would later commit suicide).
With a cast that strong it's no surprise the film is so good.
The focus on the Happy Mondays as they happily waste hundreds of
thousands of pounds, take countless hardcore drugs, and sleep with
whoever will sleep with them, represents everything good old fashioned
rock 'n' roll should - carelessness.
Shaun Ryder
(Cunningham) and Bez are played surprisingly well, as is in fact,
just about everybody.
To fully enjoy this film, forget what you know already about the
Manchester music scene, forget Steve Coogan was ever Alan Partridge,
and just let the film entertain - it'll do that without fail. And
please remember, this is not a documentary!
|
