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A fine example of a very British Film!, September 23, 2002



Reviewer: iamgaz from Worcester, Worcestershire United Kingdom
When I first heard that they were making a film on this topic was instantly excited. Being a huge fan of the history of Dance and having read books such as "Adventures in Wonderland"! by Sheryl Garrat, "Club Cultures" by Shara Thornton and Matthew Collin's "Altered State" I was interested in seeing how such a complex and culturally important story would be portrayed. Michael Winterbottom does not disappoint with his delivery of this tale of drugs, music and self-destruction in this humours and often disturbing docudrama.

Using a cinematic style in keeping with the cultural ID of the time he takes us through the people and places involved in making Manchester the cultural mecha of the late 1980's early 1990's

Whats surprising is the small scale of the film which is centred around Tony Wilson played by Steve Coogan. Who's portrayal of a man driven by an ideal about the importance of the music being created in Manchester and his passion to deliver it to the world.

The beginning of the film starts with Wilson attending a Sex Pistols gig in Manchester, where only 40 odd people turn up. However, the sparse audience is made up of the likes of the Buzzcocks, Joy Divison and eh..hem..Mick Huttnell. He realises the cultural importance of the event and he is driven to provide a venue that would allow alternative bands the necessary exposure.

The musical journey of the film is centred around two bands over the first and second acts (the end of one act and the birth of the second being highlighted by another one of Coogan's to-camera monolog's which provide a great narration to the developing plot lines)

The First Act is about the transformation of Joy Divison to New Order. Following Ian Curtis' self-destructive path, which results in his suicide days before the start of the bands American Tour. The plot does not dwell to much on Curtis as you could probably devote a whole film to this complex charter, but his work, impact and importance is remembered in a short sequence which is tastefully done. Out of these ashes New Order is formed, who's success with "Blue Monday" funds Wilson's next phase of development...the Hacienda.

The Second features on the happening of the Happy Mondays and the social poetry of Sean Ryder and the boys. As well, their incessant drug use and the rise of the Hacienda. Where the DJ is applauded not the band (another cultural change noted in a Wilson Coogan Monolog)

The introduction of Ecstasy like the Death of Curtis not dwelled upon considering the magnitude of the event. Just a short sequence featuring Bez offering some to other band members. This playing down of events gives the film very real and organic feeling, reinforcing the fact that this is a true story and things often happened just by chance... such as the coming together of the drugs, the music, the club the people.

In all, a very intelligently directed film which impressed me no end, in its execution and delivery of a channelling story. The natural camera work and acting style by all involved allows the characters not to get in the way of the story, which is essentially only about the music. Illustrating both the up's and the downs of the Manchester scene, the films' sympathetic to the era and those involved, and is punctuated by a corking soundtrack and moments of Python 'esk surrealism. A film about a very British cultural event presented in a very British style. I cannot recommend it enough.

na, dann sollte aber auch <a href="[www.imdb.com]; target="_blank">das</a> erwähnt werden ...