Michael Winterbottom has created a new breed of comedy. A hip, punctual and downright comfortably uncomfortable way of filmmaking.
“24 Hour Party People” uses an array of non-fictional characters to tell the mostly true story of the rise and fall of Factory Records during the new wave music scene in Manchester, stemming from the late 70′s into the early 90′s.
The film revolves around the life of television personality/producer Tony Wilson (Coogan), who many times during the film narrates on screen to the camera. After Wilson and his wife Lindsay (Henderson) show up at a minimally attended Sex Pistols concert, Wilson puts his company Factory Records into motion. This is where the fun begins.
The first band they sign is a band formally known as Warsaw, now calling themselves Joy Division, the Nazi term for concentration camp brothels during World War II. Although he is not sure why, Tony is continually verbally assaulted and threatened by Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis (Sean Harris). A “cunt” here and a “twat” there never really affects Tony, who is in love with their music.
Joy Division runs into quick success, which as you may know, didn’t go over very well with Ian Curtis. Just a few days before they were to start their North American tour, Curtis hangs himself in his home. As it seems that the death of Factory Records is near, the company manages to hang on.
Meanwhile, from the slums of Manchester rise brothers Shaun and Paul Ryder. The two form a quirky, reggae-rock band with the consistency of Elmer’s non-toxic glue that they call the Happy Mondays. Around this time Wilson opens a nightclub called the Hacienda, which quickly becomes a hotspot for dancing, music and drugs.
Pulling in big bucks from the Hacienda and using it to keep Factory Records afloat, he sends the Happy Mondays on a trip to the islands to record their new album. They blow it all on drugs and hold the tape hostage from Wilson and Factory. The ensuing scenes involve a surprising gunshot, a broken mirror (for the superstitious) and a ransom, which is bargained down to fewer than 50 bucks and ultimately a baked encounter with Jesus.
In the end, the Hacienda falls, as the nightclub is no longer run by Tony but ultimately the drug dealers who roam the crowds pushing their product.
I hate using the term “cult classic,” but the truth is, that is exactly what “24 Hour Party People” has become. It’s a movie that salivates the filmgoing taste buds and leaves you wanting more. And although there is nothing more to receive from this story, I can assure you I will be patiently awaiting future Michael Winterbottom projects.
As I go I leave you with a quote from the film in the word’s of God. “It’s a pity you didn’t sign the Smiths, but you were right about Mick Hucknell. His music’s rubbish, and he’s a ginger.”