24 Hour Party People
By Kit Macdonald
Former Joy Division and New Order bassist Peter Hook infamously said of Steve Coogan playing Factory Records boss Tony Wilson in 24 Hour Party People, that it was a case of "the biggest cunt in Manchester being played by the second-biggest cunt in Manchester". As challenging as Hook's line may have been to the honour of two of Britain's finest cultural exports, it is perfectly in tune with the anarchic, irreverent spirit of both Factory Records and this movie.
Made with Winterbottom's trademark innovation and humour, the film blends historical events with fictionalised elements, features several real people from the Manchester scene in cameo roles, and frequently has Coogan breaking the fourth wall to narrate events as the story of the record label and its equally legendary Hacienda nightclub and venue is riotously recounted."
I was thinking about that the other day," said Coogan in an interview about the film years later, when Hook's famous line was brought up. "The thing is, Tony Wilson is dead now, so where does that leave me exactly?"