grantss Brilliant, innovative telling of the Madchester story.The story of the emergence of Manchester as a major musical centre in the late-1970s and 80s. The story is told through the eyes of Tony Wilson (played by Steve Coogan), Grenada TV presenter/journalist, owner of The Hacienda, a famed Manchester club, and founder of Factory Records. We see the where it all started - the Sex Pistols first gig in Manchester and the emergence of bands like the Buzzcocks and, most importantly, Joy Division. We see how New Order formed from Joy Division and later we meet the Happy Mondays... Wonderfully entertaining yet edifying. It helps if you're into bands like Joy Division and the Happy Mondays, as I am. Even if you're not, it is worth watching to gain a better knowledge of musical history and the importance of what took place in Manchester in the 80s.This movie could easily have degenerated into a dry, linear history lesson. However, director Michael Winterbottom keeps the audience engaging and entertained through many innovative methods: breaking the fourth wall, humour, Wilson's narration and some interesting visual effects.As you would expect, there is a lot of music in the movie, and it is all great. Well chosen and timed too, as the music gives the movie its momentum.Solid performance by Steve Coogan in the lead role. While mostly a dramatic role, there are quite a few comedic moments, and Coogan is in his element there. Good supporting cast too.

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.

es0025 24 Hour Party People is a film that perfectly captures the spirit of an era. For those who have been born some years after that period, or those who have not reached to live it fully (including me), 24 hour party people becomes a kind of historical document.The film tells the story of Factory records, in a mock-documentary style. How it arose, how it established, and finally its debacle.Steve Coogan delivers an excellent job in the role of Tony Wilson and Andy Serkis on the other hand makes an exceptional portrait of a lost genius as was Martin Hannet.Without a doubt, the job of Micheal Winterbottom is one of the most original I've seen. It is a strange narrative between observation and integration of the viewer. In some points the main character take us into the story and even gives us some hints of future events. The film shows us its own cinematic mechanism in order to include us in it. A blend of past, present and future, where Tony Wilson knows he is making history.Finally, as Steve Coogan says, 24 Hour Party People is a movie about music, about that period in particular and what it gave to the world. The characters involved are only secondary elements which belonged to that spirit.Music lovers, enjoy it. And those who are not so, take a sit, relax, and open your mind to a new form of cinema. You won't regret.I hope you enjoyed this review. See you next time. PS: Excuse my English, i'm doing my best.

RainDogJr -When you have to choose between the truth and the legend, print the legend-Very recently I wrote my IMDb comment for the -bad- movie Mr. Woodcock, in it I wrote that in my most recent visit to my local Blockbuster I found in the used DVDs (basically new DVDs, certainly cheap) a real gem: the R1 DVD of 24 Hour Party People. I wrote that without even watching 24 Hour Party People, certainly I really wanted to watch it and I knew this was a gem or better I wanted that this could be a real gem in my book and now I can say this: it is gem!24 Hour Party People opens in 1976, 3 years after The Dark Side of the Moon, 3 years before Unknown Pleasures, in 1976 we meet Tony Wilson (Steve Coogan) and we know he will be our man, our narrator, he will say to us that he should mention this or that and he will lead us into the music of Manchester, England. At one point, near the very last scene of the film Tony Wilson's club La Hacienda offers its very last night of service and Tony tries to give something more to the people, he says that they can take all from the offices, music equipment and stuff, he hopes people can use that stuff wisely. Near the very first scene of the film we see the Sex Pistols, small crowd, big impact, first Sex Pistols appearance in Manchester, certainly a historical moment and then Tony knew that. So we have that Tony's show is basically the only TV show that shows the Sex Pistols, The Clash, Iggy, etc. There will be the Factory night at the Russell club, there will be a record label, Factory Records. The anarchists, soon the band called once Warsaw will be in the studio, this whole session with Joy Division is really memorable, from the problems with the drum kit, the parts of "She Lost Control", the hilarious stuff with the drummer on the roof to the final product. The death of the man who for Tony was the musical equivalent of Che Guevara, the end of Tony's marriage with Lindsay (Shirley Henderson), the end of the first act, my favourite act of the film for sure. You are reading the thoughts of a fella who is not a really big fan of the Sex Pistols and Joy Division, who had certainly heard and liked a lot certain songs by those bands and who before watching 24 Hour Party people never heard before about the Happy Mondays. So the second act begins and Tony introduce to us the boys that will be the Happy Mondays, second act is about a new high point for Tony and company, this time more excesses, still very memorable and very entertaining. I think "Blue Monday" is a really terrific song, successful single yet the financial problem for Tony and company was always there just as the drugs.I saw a film with Steve Coogan for the very first time when I saw the Jim Jarmusch film Coffee and Cigarettes, he was great in that wonderful short with Alfred Molina. I think Molina says only good things about 24 Hour Party People to Steve but anyway this was only the fourth film with Coogan that I see, for sure I need to see more of his stuff but meanwhile here he is just fantastic. Each actor here is doing a great job, I have Control yet to see but meanwhile I really liked Sean Harris as Ian Curtis. So I strongly recommend this picture, certainly after this I would like to see my second Michael Winterbottom film, I think I will start by giving a chance to the 2004 film 9 Songs. 9.5 out of 10PD: curious for me that posters of my two favourites bands of all time (The Doors and Pink Floyd) can be seen in this film. First is the poster of The Dark Side of the Moon, it is remove by one of Tony's friends after seeing the Sex Pistols live. Later we can see a Jim Morrison poster in Ian Curtis' house. DVD special features: "Manchester the movie", "About Tony Wilson", deleted scenes, commentary with Tony Wilson, commentary with Steve Coogan and Andrew Easton (producer), trailer and photo gallery.