Twenty Four Hour Party People [DVD] [2002]

Beginning during the dawn of Factory Records--as Tony Wilson throws himself off a cliff for Granada TV--24 Hour Party People attempts to capture the essence of the ill-fated label which spawned Joy Division/New Order, The Happy Mondays and the venue that started modern Club Culture, the Hacienda in Manchester. Director Michael Winterbottom takes a very different approach to most music biographies, by making the film self-aware that it is a film and ironically looking at its own role within the history of the "Mad-chester" scene.

Inspired by Wilson's autobiographical musings, the film is narrated in character by Steve Coogan as Wilson. He offers sporadic moments from his life--his "career" as a presenter at Granada and his several marriages--which in turn influence the destructive nature of the label he founded. Coogan's Wilson gives monologues to camera which remind the audience that what they are watching is only his perspective. Yet with Coogan in the title role it's impossible to ignore the similarities between Wilson and Alan Partridge; and although this adds instant humour to the film it also instantly pins Wilson with the comic "Partridge" tag of fated fool. The cinematography, on the other hand, tries faithfully to embody the feeling of the times, from grainy celluloid for the punk-like Joy Division gigs to bright, clean-cut images for the birth of the Hacienda. The film also benefits from an amazing soundtrack and strong supporting characters. It all adds up to a picture that's purely British in character: imbued with irony, down-and-out inspiration, and a touch of the surreal.

On the DVD: 24 Hour Party People comes as a two-disc set, but there really is little need. Disc 1 is loaded with great extras, such as the deleted scenes, commentaries and Mad-chester musings, but the second disc is a little on the dull side. This really could have been just a single great DVD. There's an excellent screen and audio transfer that brings both the music and the lurid colours to life and the disc also offers that all-important function for hardcore clubbers: a hard of hearing option. --Nikki Disney

Staggeringly versatile director Michael Winterbottom follows up his epic Western The Claim with a period piece of a completely different variety. A sprawling, visceral tribute to the legendary Manchester music scene that flourished between the years of 1976 and 1992, 24 Hour Party People recreates that influential era with reckless exuberance. In order to bring structure to the tale, Winterbottom and screenwriter Frank Cottrell Boyce focus their attentions on Tony Wilson (Steve Coogan), the man who was responsible for making it all happen. A television reporter by day, Wilson also led a notorious double life as band manager (Joy Division, the Happy Mondays, James), label president (Factory Records), and club owner (The Hacienda). Fiercely determined and dangerously stubborn, Wilson's energy gave an entire subculture of Manchester youths their place in the spotlight, forever changing the face of popular music in the process. Shot by acclaimed cinematographer Robby Muller in faded digital video, Winterbottom's pulsating film tears through its subject matter like an ecstasy induced history lesson. The performances are flawless from top to bottom, most notably Wilson, Sean Harris, Paddy Considine, John Simm, and Danny Cunningham. A must-see for music aficionados, Winterbottom's film is also worth viewing for its sheer sense of hyperkinetic entertainment.

1.85 Wide Screen
16:9 Anamorphic Wide Screen
DVD 9
DVD 5
English
English
Region 2
Dolby Digital 5.1 English
Dolby Digital 5.1
Tony Wilson Commentary
Second Commentary With Steve Coogan And Andrew Eaton
Artists Commentary From Peter Hook Rowetta Leroy Richardson Bruce Mitchell Miranda Sawyer Bobby Langley And Martin Moschop
Sleeve Notes
A Whos Who And Whats What White Rabbit Style Guide
24 Deleted Scenes
Pills N Thrills And Bellyaches Interviews
Portrait Of A Filmmaker Michael Winterbottom Documentary
Peter Saville Gallery Designs With Peter Saville Tony Wilson Commentary
Here To Stay New Order Music Video

Blown away by an unknown band called the sex pistols, tv presenter tony wilson (steve coogan) is inspired to invent a uniquely anarchic record label. Soon he's promoting everyone from new order to happy mondays on his newly formed factory records - and partying like a rock star. From tony's speedy rise to factory's hedonistic fall, this "wonderful party of a movie stamps on a smiley face that will linger for hours" - new york post