Rating: 
Summary: Dance dance dance dance dance to the radio
Review: 24hr party people purports to show the rise and fall of post-punk and the beginnings of rave culture in Manchester, England at the end of the seventies, start of the eighties. It makes an admirable attempt to do this, but it fails in many, many ways.
First of all, the story is too big to be seen through the eyes of one person (Tony Wilson, founder of the admirable Factory records collective), especially someone who is primarily so self-confessedly concerned with his place in history. Tony Wilson did not create rave, and this film surely overplays his role in the founding of the scene. By focussing in on this one label we lose a lot of the historical context, and the movie's habit of skipping years doesn' t help the flow of the narrative either.
Secondly, the movie also sacrifices a large amount of narrative flow for the sake of cinematic continuity. While I have always been a huge fan of Joy Division, and know a fair bit about the Factory records story, I feel that people without a fair smattering of this background knowledge would've been lost in the sheer number of rapidly rotating characters, skipped years and seemingly unlinked events that all add up to the movie's climax.
While the broad scope of the movie can be blamed for these mistakes, the director and writers are also culpable for other issues. I love Steve Coogan - he's a great comedian and a great actor, but he gets waaay too much screen time here, and way too many direct-to-camera monologues that occur outside of the historical flow of the film, and end up seeming self-serving and gratuitous.
The movie also makes no attempt to develop the characters in the movie beyond a brief introduction. Tony Wilson's motives for trying to create an anarchist-collectve record label are never explained, nor is there ever even any discussion of why his partners go along with it, especially as they spend large parts of the end of the movie trying to kill him. Why did Ian Curtis kill himself? Why is Shaun Ryder such a mess? Why is Martin Hannett considered a "genius" when his sole contribution to the movie is to insult all the bands and irritate everybody he comes into contact with? The section on the rise of the drug-culture in the Hacienda also seem to have been written by Tony Wilson to excuse himself from wrong-doing, reading like a brief about to be submitted to a judge, "It wasn't my fault gov!".
All in all i think more impartiality would've helped this film. More judgement, more character, more heroes and villans would've made it a better movie. More focus just on the Factory records experiment would've made it easier to digest, and less of the no-talent (...) clowns known as the Happy Mondays would've made the entire thing more palatable.
If you like the music, watch the film. If you don't know the background read some of the books about the period instead. 24 hour party people contains some good moments, but I'm not sure I'd sit through it again to see them...
Rating: 
Summary: Great
Review: I rented and then bought this movie because I am a Joy Division and early punk fan, but I ended up learning a lot about the Manchester rave scene.
Tony Wilson's commentary is a great thing to listen to, if only for his clarification of the film's myths. Steve Coogan is great as Tony Wilson, as is Sean Harris as Ian Curtis.
About the Happy Mondays section. Though there are plenty of myths they could have chosen from, most of the ones used in this movie are fictional. But they portray Bez and Shaun Ryder in a very funny way.
This movie is both extremely funny and depressing. If you're a music fan, it's good to own. I could watch it very many times.
Rating:
Summary: Wish I Were THERE!
Review: I've seen this movie twice and loved it.Never knew much about Joy Division or beginning of rave in Manchester and it was great to see a team of people working together to do something in their local music scene that would also change the world. It wasn't a bunch of businessmen but a bunch of people who loved music!
Rating: 
Summary: Worth seeing to get a glimpse of the era.
Review: I'm a fanatic when it comes to this era of music, which is why I looked forward to seeing this movie. While it does give a good look at what was going on in that place and time, that's about all I came out of it with. Tony Wilson displays a humorous Messianic complex, which he does deserve for bringing such great bands such as the Durutti Column and Joy Division to the populace. A Certain Ratio will be a group I'm going to look into. However too much of a chunk of film is spent on the Happy Mondays. There wasn't all that much about the everyday life of Factory records or the Hacienda, though we do know how both places went under. Mainly it was about 65% Happy Mondays, 30% Tony Wilson, and the remaining to everything/one else. and Perhaps I am of the minority, but Sean Harris didn't look like Ian Curtis at all. He had the stature and the persona, but the face was not there. Too old. I had a hard time watching him perform; after all, Ian's act was something only he could do. But they should've got someone who looked more like him!
Rating:
Summary: Everything you need to know about being a poseur.....
Review: So you like house music? Love bands who were cornerstones of the genre? Get ecstatic dancing to Joy Division or New Order? Then don't watch this movie. It's difficult to know whether Michael Winterbottom was completely clueless about the real stars of the Manchester indie Pop scene of the late '70s to early '90s, or if he's indirectly mocking it. Whatever way you slice it, he appears to have no idea of how to get a handle on the story or the implicit groove. He's about as hip as Tony Wilson... and actually the real guy is hipper... according to the commentary, even he appears to think the film of dubious quality. As someone states on one of the documentaries that appears in the Special Features section of the DVD, the film has plenty of material for many movies... there are many compelling stories here. So why the hell focus on Wilson's hipster posing? Why concentrate on wit that is so dry and affectless that it's impossible to tell whether he considers bands like JD and NO as anything besides free day-trip tickets to the hair salon or silk paisley ascot money? Winterbottom argues that the Wilson character is more of a tour guide to "the scene," which is why we don't get too close to him. And that would be all fine and good if we presented with "the scene" itself... But most of "24 Hour Party People" is like an irritating episode of the Tonight Show with a lame guest host and a great musical act that gets bumped at the last minute in favor of the guy who handles snakes. Unbelievably most of the second half of the film is spent on the "genius" of the Happy Mondays.... with little shrift given to New Order, which are arguably more talented and produced output that is far more influential across any number of musical genres today. But isn't blowing up pigeons and throwing tantrums so much more interesting? Well, no... but it's what these crazy punks are supposed to do, right? Or so Winterbottom thinks... you can almost hear him simpering "Am I cool yet?" as he directs Wilson to speak soberly on the birth of DJ culture (right to the camera as usual) in his all-knowing monotone. Don't tell us--- show us. When a relatively commercial effort like "Go" (or an indie treat like "Groove") can use the rave/dance scene as a backdrop for a story and still convey a sense of the passion and energy the music imparts, it gives you a sense of the power waiting to be tapped into. There's a more positive vibe going on in "Thank God It's Friday" however. You'd think that a movie that drags itself out over 2 hours and contains the story of some of the most influential music makers and producers in history could manage to least get a foot tapping or a head bobbing. That it doesn't is sheer incompetance and inexcusable.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent look at the Manchester scene
Review: Folks who don't listen to alternative music (and I mean REAL alternative music, not the nu-metal garbage that's been promoted as alternative over the last few years) may not realize it, but since the late 1970s, the city of Manchester, England has been home to one of the most amazing music scenes in the world. 24 Hour Party People is a fascinating dramatized look at this incredibly influential scene. The story starts with the Sex Pistols' first show in Manchester. Only 42 people attended, but most of them went on to either start bands or otherwise help get things going. The narrative center of the movie is one man who attended that concert, Tony Wilson. A local TV personality, Cambridge journalism graduate (he occsionally mentions this as he struggles to be taken seriously), punk rock advocate, promoter, and manager, Wilson was also the nominal head of Factory Records, which released extremely influential postpunk records by Joy Division, and later, New Order. Wilson and his New Order partners also opened the Hacienda club, which gave birth to the "Madchester" rave culture of the late 80s and early 90s. The notoriously drug-addled and self-destructive Happy Mondays are shown in all their glory as they emerge from this scene under Wilson's "guidance" (as the movie shows, trying to manage the Mondays was roughly like trying to clean up a massive oil spill with a paper towel). Though Wilson is a fascinating character in his own right, the heart of the movie is the bands, their music, and the machinations of the music industry. Wilson himself was far more interested in being a sort of "sponsor of the arts" than in making money, and the movie gleefully shows one business failure after another. Joy Division lead singer Ian Curtis tragically hangs himself on the eve of the band's first American tour. New Order's "Blue Monday" becomes the biggest selling 12" single of all time, but they lose 5 pence for every copy they sell because of the artistic but costly packaging. The Hacienda is massively popular but makes no money, for the drug of choice is Ecstasy, not alcohol. Through it all, the movie does an excellent job of hewing to a narrow path between mockumentary and drama, irony and sincerity, humor and sensitivity. The results are impressive: this is one of the best movies I have seen about music in a particular time and place. The acting is generally excellent, especially Steve Coogan as Tony Wilson and Sean Harris giving an uncanny performance as Ian Curtis. My only complaint is that the movie lacks depth. We don't learn very much about most of the characters other than Wilson, and such seminal bands as the Smiths and the Stone Roses don't even appear. That's a pretty minor complaint, though, given the enormous breadth and influence of the Manchester scene.
Rating:
Summary: The birth of the rave scene
Review: Great movie, it chronicles both the birth and death of Joy Division and the start of the rave scene, both of whitch happened in Manchester, England over the course of a few years. If you like that kooky Brit humor, are a New Order/Joy Division fan, and you want to see how the rave scene was born, get this movie.
Rating:
Summary: Filmed perfection
Review: Funny, moody, sublimely acted, and casting that is completely on target. Even if you're not familiar with Manchester's post-punk music scene, it'll at least make you think about what you've missed. Coogan is brilliant as Wilson. Fantastic film. I cannot say enough good things about it.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting.
Review: Im definiatly not the most qualified person to write this review partially because I am of a much later generation than this music. I know nothing about the band joy division. And I still beleive that they are not punk. Sounded like new wave to me in the movie. Anyways, the movie itself was filmed in such a way it appeared to be a documentary not an acted film to me. Tony Wilsons dialogue was very interesting and thought provoking. It was also interesting to watch these people go through their lives. I would have to watch this movie atleast one more time to totally grasp all the thematical elements, but it is definiatly a suggested movie if you are bored of the "popular" movies of today.
Rating:
Summary: A film that could appeal to many music lovers, etc.
Review: This film is of course most appealing to fans of early 80's indie music. The film has the that "sex, drugs, and rockin-roll" approach to it and presents these aspects of the music scene and clubs which is quite prevelant among fans and musicians of many types of music. Thus, a commonality that many can relate to, even if not a fan of the type of music the film is about. And, hey, ths is what these people did, partied and and made records, thus the name--"24 hour..." Like many musicians, some of them had their ups and downs with drugs and alcohol too. (Also, if you liked "Trainspotting", you'll like this film--it has the same feel as others have said too.) Namely, Factory records label artists, Joy Divison, New Order, Happy Mondays, Durutti Column,(hey what about Section 25?), A Certain Ratio, etc. are the subject of the film. I liked the voice over documentary style of the movie and having Steve Coogan as Tony Wilson was brillant--that made the movie. As he stated in the film, it was made about the music. However, I was left wanting more music and more scenes with the bands to give more of a feel of their part in it all. I liked the Joy Divison scenes and that was so subtely done, even Ian Curtis' suicide scene--here was more story that could have been done here leading up to it, but the JD fans know the story. Likewise, I'm parial to New Order and wanted to see more of their influence and presence in the movie and music. It seems the Happy Mondays got the most attention in the film and even left the impression that they were Factory's and Tony Wilson's favorate group (but not the favorate Factory artist of the fans I don't think--but hey this label wasn't about popularity.) Still JD/New Order put Factory on the map, so I'd thought we see more of them. Another thing, as a couple of previous reviewers have mentioned,this film is hard to follow. I mean it seems to flow well, but things aren't explained much--maybe its better that way--but then you have to be a fan and know the history to really understand ansd enjoy it fully. It is never really clear what year it is in the film, except at the beginning and then at key scenes, like Ian Curtis'and Martin Hannett's deaths if you know when that was (the film doesn't reveal this.) The rest of the time it just moves through a series of scenes without any sense of time. In addition, not trying to be a complainer, but I wish the on screen text bubbles, like the names of bands, etc. that pop up through the movie, were more clear--couldn't hardly read what they said--this obviously is a technical detail. Hey, all in all, and blah, blah, blah, this was an entertaining film for music lovers, esp. of these fore mentioned bands. I viewed the VHS, but not yet the DVD, but would just to see the extra goodies included, being a big fan of these bands I grew up with in high schhool, although me in the U.S. and they in England. Glad their music first found its way over here to the more progressive record shops and radio stations at the time. If only this record company, club, and bands could have lasted longer... but I think many will remember and remain fans. Perhaps, if anything, like the song, New Order is "Here to Stay."
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