24 Hour Party People (R, 2002)

24 HOUR PARTY PEOPLE is a film about the early days of punk music that should give some extra exposure to its talented cast and the mainly underground music it covers. The star is Steve Coogan, a remarkable talent who shines as Tony Wilson, a Manchester TV news reporter looking to make his mark. After witnessing an early concert by the Sex Pistols, who are on the verge of shaking up England, he gets his station to televise one of their performances. Soon he is participating in a revolution as he gives exposure to the Clash, the Buzzcocks, and several other pioneering punk acts. He comes to devote himself to it full-time, founding the groundbreaking Factory Records as well as the Hacienda Club, which is now considered the birthplace of Rave culture. Along the way, he watches the rise, fall, and tumultuous careers of now-infamous acts Joy Division, New Order, and the Happy Mondays.

Funny, smart, and exciting, this film has some of the best dialogue you'll hear ("I was postmodern before it was fashionable!" is one of many standouts), and Coogan's narration will have you in stitches, blow your mind, and make you look forward to seeing his next film. The entire cast, an ensemble of eclectic British characters that Guy Ritchie would be proud of, turn in great performances, but after Coogan the most noteworthy is probably Sean Harris as Joy Division's Ian Curtis, capturing all the distinctive aspects of one of rock's most tragic figures.

Studio: Miramax
Director: Michael Winterbottom
Cast: John Thomson, Nigel Pivaro, Steve Coogan
Genre: Drama
Run time: 117 minutes
Theatrical release: August 16, 2002
DVD release: January 21, 2003
MPAA Rating: R
MPAA explanation: strong language, drug use and sexuality.