24 Hour Party People **** (2002, Steve Coogan, Andy Serkis, Shirley Henderson, Paddy Considine, Keith Allen) – Classic Movie Review 1978

Steve Coogan impresses as Tony Wilson, the real-life pop producer behind bands, including Joy Division, New Order, the Happy Mondays and Manic Street Preachers. Director Michael Winterbottom’s 2002 film presents an edgy, graphic view of the amoral music culture of the late Seventies and early Eighties, with plenty of sex, drugs ‘n rock roll.

The Manchester pop scene of the day is well conjured up in a convincing, atmospheric movie, based on the story of Factory Records and the Hacienda nightclub.

Andy Serkis, Shirley Henderson, Paddy Considine, Keith Allen head a strong support cast that also includes Danny Cunningham, Chris Coghill, Lennie James, Ralf Little, Paul Popplewell, John Simm, Ron Cook, Raymond Waring, Peter Kay, John Thomson, Nigel Pivaro, Martin Hancock, Mark Windows and Dave Gorman.

The writer is Frank Cottrell Boyce and the cinematography is by Robby Müller.

© Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Movie Review 1978

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Steve Coogan and Tony Wilson.