Reviews
24 Hour Party People
Directed by Michael Winterbottom (Welcome to Sarajevo)
Starring: Steve Coogan
Manchester “from the birth of punk in 1976 to the death of acid in 1992”.
In 1976 an almost unknown group called the Sex Pistols were the opening act for Manchester group The Buzzcocks. Only 35 people were there to watch. Every one of them was profoundly changed. Or so the legend goes.
One of the people watching was a Manchester television presenter named Tony Wilson. Wilson had his finger on the pulse of Manchester’s underground music scene and struck a bargain with some of his musician friends. He’d start a record company, there would be no contracts, they would all share in the profits, and they would all be able to “fuck off” if they ever felt like it. And with that, Factory Records was born. Factory Records was arguably the most influential record company of the early 80s new wave scene, notably because they signed bands like Joy Division/New Order and Buzzcocks.
24 Hour Party People chronicles the Music and the characters influential to the big music movements in Manchester through the career of Tony Wilson. Wilson is an idealist, he takes himself too seriously, and always seemed to be just a bit ahead of his time. Involved not only in promoting Punk in the late 70s, new wave in the 80s, but acid house music and raves in the early 90s.
People who love any of this music will be enthralled by this film. You get an inside view of incidents like the death of Ian Curtis, lead singer of Joy Division, the crack cocaine addiction and wild antics of Shaun Ryder, lead singer of the Happy Mondays, to the birth of raves and the ecstasy culture.
People who don’t love this music, or who have never heard it, will be touched by Michael Winterbottom’s wonderful storytelling style. You cannot watch one of his films and remain unmoved. Tony Wilson’s story is interesting and endearing and best of all, (mostly) true.
The ReelBuzz: Well made, and so so interesting.
Esther
