Unlike most of the best biopics out there, 24 Hour Party People doesn't take itself too seriously. That's not to say it doesn't take its subjects seriously, or that it doesn't speak with authority. It would just prefer to have a bit of fun with it, that's all. And in that light, 24 Hour Party People feels like one of the most realistic films on this list. It would have been a disservice to show Tony Wilson, the owner and manager of Fantasy Records-the most important record label in the emerging punk scene-in a seriocomic fashion. Because that wasn't what he, or his myriad of represented artists, were about. Steve Coogan as Wilson is playful the whole way through, frequently breaking the fourth wall and playing sleazy with a curiously appealing charm (like only Coogan can). The scenes move fast, the story even faster, and to paraphrase Ferris Bueller, if you don't stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss some stellar performances from a swell ensemble cast. (Keep an eye out for a young Simon Pegg and a not-motion-captured Andy Serkis.) The style has reminded some of a glossier Trainspotting, but a more apt analogy might call it a shinier Snatch. This is a must-see for any punk aficionados, as the soundtrack is pretty fantastic as well.
