24 Hour Party People Serves As Appetizer For Forthcoming Biopic of Joy Division's Ian Curtis

Plans are currently in the works for a movie based on the tragically short life of Joy Division singer Ian Curtis. Ian Curtis was the leader singer for the highly influential Manchester, England band Joy Division in the late '70s. After several successful singles and with their second album about to be released, Ian Curtis hanged himself on the eve of the band's trip to America for their first tour here.

The remaining three members of the band - Bernard Albrecht, Peter Hook and Stephen Morris-recruited keyboardist Gillian Gilbert and rechristened themselves New Order. The rest is legend.

Rumors were swirling that Jude Law would be playing Curtis in the film, but since then those rumors have apparently been proven to just wishful thinking. Law is a good actor, especially at playing offbeat characters, and he's got an odd shaped head like Ian Curtis had so it would probably have been interesting had he been the choice. And for sure it would have turned the film into a potentially bigger film than it probably will be.

For those interested in the story of Curtis, Joy Division and New Order, however, there already exists an excellent film. And while it's not technically about Joy Division/New Order, the first part especially features Curtis as a major character.

24 Hour Party People was released in 2002 to little fanfare, yet has grown in stature as people discover it exists. If nothing else it is a must-see for the bravura performance by Steve Coogan as Tony Wilson. This is his story, whether true or not, and Coogan rises to the occasion with one of the greatest performances of the decade. Of course, that's not saying a whole lot, so let's take it even further: One of the best performances of the past twenty years. He is amazing. If you only know Coogan from his underutilized performance in the bloated remake of the bloated epic Around the World in 80 Days, then you are in for a revelation. This is a major actor.