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Review Uploaded
09/13/02

1 hr. 57 mins.
Starring: Steve Coogan, Sean Harris, Andy Serkis, Shirley Henderson, Lennie James, Danny Cunningham, Paddy Considine
Directed by: Michael Winterbottom

Frank's film tip: "24 Hour Party People" is Michael Winterbottom's endless celebration about the emergence of the punk rock scene. Bottoms up!

24 Hour Party People is one irreverent rock-u-drama that dances to its own uniquely jolting tune. Director Michael Winterbottom (“Wonderland”, “Welcome To Sarajevo”, “The Claim”) and writer Frank Cottrell concoct a finger-snapping pop tale of a forceful punk sound that gave an eventual identity to the rave culture in Manchester, England during the nihilistic late ‘70s and ‘80s. True, 24 Hour Party People could be perceived as another spontaneous, bouncy biopic dedicated to the all-too-familiar themes of sex, drugs and rock-n-roll. However, Winterbottom is astute enough to rise above the rollicking and rhythmic cliches’ and provide the audience with an insightful and robust musical melodrama that is as staunchly riotous as it is refreshingly informative.

This brash British narrative certainly gives permission for life-long punkheads to relive the nostalgic nuances when an industrial utopia such as Manchester allowed the cynicism of the rustic punkish beat to liberate their repressed, weary souls. 24 Hour Party People is based upon the life of music motivator Tony Wilson (played by well-known English comedian Steve Coogan), a well-educated and one-time local television reporter-turned-rock impresario who became a major force in shaping the Manchester music circuit during the emerging days of the punk renaissance. Suddenly, Wilson stumbled upon an epiphany when he attended a mind-blowing 1976 debut concert put on by an unknown yet explosive band called the Sex Pistols. Being the savvy and ambitious opportunist that he was, Wilson alertly used his TV station connections to broadcast one of these lively performances by the wildly unconventional musical group. Soon, Wilson found himself being bombarded by several Manchester-based punk acts looking to get some much-needed exposure courtesy of this promising promoter. Alas, Tony Wilson—a noted music maker-and-shaker—is finally christened!

Already assessing what would possibly be a revolutionary movement in the Manchester music scene, the wily Wilson and his cohorts seize the opportunity to capitalize on this booming euphoria by creating what would be the legendary Factory Records. And through this label, Wilson was able to produce such progressive bands as Joy Division, New Order and The Happy Mondays—groups that would go on and ignite this exploding genre within the music industry. Also, we explore the world of Wilson’s days as a dance club owner of The Hacienda, the place where his bands delivered their raw, talented goods.

In particular, a peculiar friendship is developed between the go-getter demeanor of Tony Wilson and the overly manic Joy Division lead singer Ian Curtis (Sean Harris). Some of the movie’s offbeat charm is attributed to Curtis because of what his chaotic and colorful character brings to the table. Curtis is the kind of twisted individual who exhibits an urgent madness that intensifies his erratic creativity therefore defining the complexities of his confrontational music. Plus, how would one define the Joy Division frontman’s animated stage presence? Well, it could be best described as watching a berserk showman on rollerskates traipsing through a pile of banana peels. To say that Curtis came undone while performing on stage is indeed an understatement to say the least. Sadly, like some tragic endings when an upcoming superstar simply cannot handle the glare of his own shiny spotlight, Ian Curtis committed suicide. Thus, this left his surviving bandmates in an emotional quandary just as they were about to embark on an American singing tour not to mention a delusional Tony Wilson getting a major taste of the music business and its unpredictable reality check.

In addition to poking around the insights involving Wilson and his rise to prominence, 24 Hour Party People generously shares with us the stylized happenings of the various groups and how they came to be the ambassadors of edgy music that accentuated their own disillusionment and distrust. The soundtrack is as vibrantly resounding as expected and the British authentic wit is noticeable throughout this spry examination of the wayward character studies. Special consideration needs to go to the scattered cameos that boast some of the real-life participants in this exciting and joyous exorcise. Everything about Party is charismatic and stimulating in the way it focuses on the ins-and-outs of its peppy subject matter.

24 Hour Party People is an exuberant and breezy biographical movie that has a gleefully snappy verve in the way it captures the insane celebratory spirit of its delightfully lopsided lyrical anthem. On a minor note, the film is sketchy at times because it doesn’t highlight enough of the music being featured that gives this showcase its zesty personality. Still, the story does justice to Tony Wilson as the crafty record executive who went on to carve a distinguished career for himself and help usher in the British punk and post-punk era. Winterbottom should also be commended for turning his confining soulless setting of Manchester into a toe-tapping venue where the gyrating groove of this kind of aggressive music literally awakened a region based on the expressionistic hardcore realities of this musical transition. This is a wry and bombastic commentary that delves into what some would deem the “perverse poetry that embraces its underground transgression”. In other words, the absorbing and shocking world we all know as punk rock.

It wouldn’t be a bad choice to “party hearty” with these people 24 hours a day. In this case, we only have 117 minutes to do it in but hey…it’s better than nothing, right?