24 Hour Party People (2002)

Cast includes:
CHARACTER	ACTOR/ACTRESS	RATING
Tony Wilson	Steve Coogan
Lindsay Wilson	Shirley Henderson	½
Martin Hannett	Andy Serkis
Shaun Ryder	Danny Cunningham	½
Sean Harris	Ian Curtis
Boethius	Christopher Eccleston
Rob Gretton	Paddy Considine

Review

Inspired, chaotic, stylistically rich film about the Madchester-scene, from the birth of punk music with the Sex Pistols, through the pain and suffering of Joy Division/New Order, the antics of Happy Mondays, and ultimately to the birth (and death) of acid house culture in the late 80s/early 90s. Everything centered around colourful TV-personality, club owner and music label idealist Tony Wilson. The film is a fountain for music buffs who were a part of, or are into the period, and will also provide good laughs for other viewers, as we're taken on a ride of filmatic effects that mirror the life and mind of Wilson. Steve Coogan's performance is appropriately offbeat and inspiringly energetic, but despite a creative approach by director Michael Winterbottom, 24 Hour Party People leaves a lot to be desired. The character of Ian Curtis should've been more probingly examined, and New Order's success is brushed aside with too little screen time. The film awakes your hunger, but is too rash and hasty too really lets us breathe the air and experience the atmosphere of the scene it describes.