Rating: 
Summary: Love It!
Review: The history of Factory Records and Hacienda in Manchester, UK, told through the life of TV Personality and music afficianado Tony Wilson from 1976-94. Very likable film, with due respect paid to the giants of the scene: Joy Division (especially Ian Cutis), New Order, and The Happy Mondays. The music running through the film is, of course, spectacular, and for those of us who missed the early days, the recreation of the club and concerts was spectacular.
Rating: 
Summary: The Review
Review: This movie made me homesick. Alright, the review is supposed to be about the movie but if you want friggin film criticism, read Stephen Hunter in the Washington Post. All I can say is that if you lived in Manchester in 1976, you will GET this film. If not, you might understand it but you won't ever GET it. If someone was to tell me that a fine, fine movie would be made about Madchester when I was 19 and living in Stockport, I would have chucked you out on your arse. However, a fine, fine movie was made and it did put a lump in me throat.
P.S.
Pete Shelley: I love ya, mate.
Rating:
Summary: 24 Hour Tony Wilson
Review: Having been young enough at the time to see the Sex Pistols on a Tony Wilson show that included Marc Bolan and AC/DC I realised that here was someone, outside of London, knew that things were changing. Having been someone who for years bought anything that had a Factory tag attached to it, this film wrenched a lot of memories of following Joy Division, New Order, A Certain Ratio et al around the country and of all the 'good times' that could be had (oh how I wish someone knew how to tune the keyboard in the early JD days for instance). All in all didn't appreciate Happy Mondays cos they acted like tossers - more fool me eh? This is a film about Tony Wilson which he fully deserves. It is a great film. He was wrong about the Smiths but absolutely spot on with Mick Hucknall. By the way I thought God looked like me.
Rating:
Summary: winterbottom the great
Review: I wasn't in Manchester in the mid to late 70's, but this film is brimming with a life that I can only hope summed it up in a couple hours. OK that might be a bit much, but it was great nonetheless. Brilliantly shot by the great Robby Müller as well.
Rating:
Summary: Helix
Review: First off I want to thank Winterbottom for a WONDERFUL representation of Joy Division and dedication to Ian Curtis. This movie spans from the begining of the Manchester Punk scene (Sex Pistols, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Stranglers, Clash etc.) to the begining of the Manchester Rave scene, and the involvement of Tony Wilson through it all. How his record company signed major Post-Punk bands like Joy Division and later signed post-JD electronic band New Order. Starting off as a club owner for bands to play at called The Factory, starting a record label with the same name to sign these bands that played there, and leading up to catching onto the electronic sound that came from Manchester, starting the legendary club Hacienda forming the Rave scene, leading to the demise of it all. It followed, as it was made to be, only one aspect of music history in this particular era. Now that this part of the era is covered, I would love to see more about how the bands influenced music. Lets see here, we have Joy Division and Siouxsie and the Banshees, two very influential bands that lead to the forming of what we know as Goth Rock, we have Beggers Banquet with Bauhaus leading to '80's Goth/Death Rock. We also have the beginings of Industrial music. Will this happen? Probably not, though at the same time I wouldn't MGM or whoever to release something on these aspects of underground subculture, maybe we best stick with Mick Mercer on that one.
Rating: 
Summary: The movie about the music
Review: This is a movie about muisic. If you don't know who Joy Division were and don't care. Skip this moive. It is best viewed with the "real" Tony Wison commentary turned on.
Rating:
Summary: A Funny Ride
Review: I dont have much knoledge about the early 80's rave scene besides what i gathered from this film. If what i have seen in this film is accurate, then Tony Wilson is probably the most important figure in dance music. He is the true genius behind all the raves and mega clubs all around the world. In his own words (in the film) he says "This is it..the begning of rave culture...this is where people started to Applaud the DJ, not the musicians, the DJ...they are applauding the Medium...". This is an important film.Stylistically this movi is crazy!...cinematography, in this film is very remnicent of Human Traffic or Trainspotting. All the elelments that made those 2 movis classics are present in this one....thick cockney accents, intelligent dialogues, an amazing soundtrack and beautiful images of post industrial england. Steve Coogan's (who plays Tony Wilson) acting is absolutely superb and he displays this ingenius nattative style in the film...he fits right into his role...no other person could have done it better. Because his acting is so good ...he overshadows the other actors and that works both against and for the film. The story is clearly divided into two distinct parts...the rise and the fall of Factory Records(Tony Wilsons lable...to which New Order and Happy Mondays were signed to) and the Hacienda (the club night that turned into its own club...some of the earliest raves happened there). The "Rise" part of the film is absolutely distorted and crazy...true to the ethos of that perticular time. But i do feel it could have been done a little bit better. "The Fall" part of the film is done in a much better manner. You can accuratelly access what actually happened. In the special features of the DVD there is a small section called "Manchester the Movi". In that section sombody says (a Happy Monday member i think) Elgland has "Lock Stock...", Sheffild has "The Full Monty", Edinburgh has "Trainspotting", Cardiff has "Human Traffic" (ok he dint mention Human Traffic...but i feel he should have...) and now finally Manchester has "24 Hour Party People". Tony Wilson loved the city of Manchester and that is clearly evident in the film. I would like to think there is going to be another film for "Bristol" the city Massive Attack, Portishead and Tricky put on the map...hopefully one day it will happen.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting documentary-like approach
Review: 24 Hour Party People is not your usual film fare. It tells the true story of the birth of punk music in Manchester, England in an almost documentary approach. That technique is what makes this film work. I'm not a big punk music fan, and the whole culture surrounding it is strange to me, not something I could ever get into, but through the use of the character/narrator Tony Wilson (played by Steve Coogan), this strange world is clearly explained in a humorous but honest commentary. As Wilson interacts with characters in the 70s through 90s, he occasionally breaks the fourth wall and talks to the audience from a present-day perspective, in a way providing that 20-20 hind-sight everyone has long after the fact. What this film achieves the most in, however, is the way it blends documentary footage into the film. The whole thing is filmed with a hand-held camera in such a fashion that you almost are fooled into thinking it is a documentary, at least, until Wilson breaks that fourth wall again to remind you. It's a great technique that sets this movie apart from others based on true events. The only real flaw is how time passes without the film ever really letting on. It begins in 1976, and after what feels like a few months, suddenly its 1980. Then, the film continues in what feels like a few years, but when the end title cards come up, it says it's 1997. No one visually aged, and no time cards ever let me know what year it was. For those that already know the story, I'm sure they weren't confused, but it is confusing for those not familiar with it. Still, 24 Hour Party People is really for those who were a part of that era, the fans of punk music. It's not a film I would eagerly sit and watch over and over, but those interested in this subject likely would. This one is highly recommend to 80s punk fans, and is worth checking out for those who love film experiments.
Rating:
Summary: Flashy and energetic Brit film with style to burn
Review: 24 HOUR PARTY PEOPLE is ANOTHER movie David ... ranted about in one of his daft press releases. Thankfully, the press seems to be clicking on to the fact that the SPCS are ignorant fools and ignoring them. (Really, you're better off asking for MY opinion, "jackbooted liberal" that I am. Ain't it so,Davey and Gordon?) Steve Coogan is in fine form as Tony Wilson, a British music show presenter. This stylish docu-dramatic movie recounts his experiences as he is caught in the changing climate of the Manchester music scene. From the late 70s punk of the Sex Pistols and Siouxie And The Banshees to the 80s New Wave poppycock of Joy Division, who later had to change their name to New Order because their previous band name had links to Nazi Germany. Among the predictable sex and drugs malarkey are some humorous scenes; notably a little person ...I mean MIDGET, cleaning elephants at a zoo as well as a cute scene of a duck herding sheep. Of course being a movie about music, sex and drugs are obligatory. A rock movie wouldn't be the same without it, unless it's a bio of The Osmonds or The Partridge Family. 24 HOUR PARTY PEOPLE is a clever, humorous film well worth seeing.
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Rating:
Summary: Snaps, Crackles, and Pops!
Review: A movie that is as fun as it's trailers make it out to be. Following Steve Coogan through this story is utter joy. May be a tad over-long, but that is being really, really nitpicky. Go ahead and enjoy!
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