Creation Stories

I find it interesting that Allan McGee has completely changed the narrative of his upbringing and early life. The large house he lived in was in a middle class area of Glasgow. His parents and family didn't speak rough Glaswegian (although in the film it appeared by their accents they were from Edinburgh!). No mention of the 6 week family holidays to California when he was a teenager?? Or the money his Dad loaned him to start Creation? The scene where his father was wearing Masonic regalia in the house ie out with a Masonic meeting, would never have happened. Let's just say the amount of artistic license used is nearly as big as Allan's over inflated ego. A megalomaniac in the right place at the right time. No more, no less. Judge for yourself the kind of person he is. I note they don't do go into much detail regarding the son he never acknowledged until the boy was a man. As for the actual film, much like the book, a jumpy, cobbled together tale of anecdotes to add to the self importance of Allan McGee. If you didn't know the Creation story you might think you were watching an Irvine Welch black comedy...

Greetings again from the darkness. As a kid in Glasgow, Alan McGee's dream was the same as many others: he wanted to make it big in the music business. A TV appearance by The Sex Pistols lit the proverbial fire, and Alan became obsessed. However, as he states in the film, "I didn't have any talent, which limited my opportunities." What he did possess was ambition and commitment. The last few years have produced an abundance of music biopics, yet this one isn't based on a great singer, songwriter, or guitar player. Instead, director Nick Moran and co-writers Dean Cavanagh and Irvine Welsh have adapted Alan McGee's autobiography, "The Creation Records Story: Riots, Raves and Running a Label."

The film begins with the tagline, "most of this happened", and of course, we understand that when rock 'n roll is involved, stories get twisted and personalities are exaggerated. Leo Flanagan and Ewen Bremner star as the younger and older Alan McGee, respectively. Flanagan gets the backstory which sets the conflict with McGee's father, while Bremner, as you have likely guessed, gets the flamboyant and wild events of the later years.

There is a zaniness to the film in that, at times, it has frantic pacing, quick cuts, and psychedelic effects. Suki Waterhouse plays a journalist interviewing McGee on his success, and this provides a touch of structure to a story that otherwise bounces between timelines and business developments so haphazardly that we can't possibly keep up. McGee and Creation Records were key players in the surge of independent and alternative music in the late 1980's and early 1990's. The label featured such bands as Primal Scream, The Jesus and Mary Chain, and of course, Oasis.

Bremner is high-octane as the fast-talking McGee, and we believe that he believes he's running "the coolest record label on the planet." We are along for the ride in his never-ending quest to find the next band that is "going to be bigger than U2." He's a maverick who succumbs to the lifestyle by over-indulging in drugs, and having no obvious business savvy in maintaining what he builds. The Oasis story is particularly well told, and features Jason Flemyng at the King Tut gig. Other supporting work is provided by an unusually high-strung Jason Isaacs, Paul Kaye, and Steven Berkoff in the film's oddest role. He plays a McGee hallucination of famed occultist and writer Aleister Crowley.

Danny Boyle is an Executive Producer on the film and director Nick Moran has spent much of his career acting, including a role in LOCK, STOCK AND TWO SMOKING BARRELS (1998). This combination (as well as a few connected actors) is likely a key to the early Guy Ritchie vibes we sometimes experience. Set Decorator Clare Keyte deserves a shoutout for exceptional work in various time periods and settings. Kudos to Bremner for his all-in approach, but the film works best as one that offers some nostalgia and historical value of a time when the music culture shifted in the UK.

The film will stream on AMC+ and be available On Demand and digital on February 25, 2022.

If you empty the bins of the editing suites of every music film for the last twenty years, put it in a blender with Irvine Welsh's last few terrible books, this is what you end up with. It's a terrible shame as theres a legitimate story to be told and some very good actors wasted (and Nick Moran should definitely stick to acting - his Malcolm McLaren impression is superb but truly he couldn't direct traffic). This film is a mess: a horrible cliche soup of strung-together anecdotes and derivative snapshots with no structure or shape. Does for Creation Records what 'Cats' did for cats.

"I've been a fan of Oasis for a long time, and their music, so when the trailer came out, I wanted to see this semi-autobiographical film about Oasis manager Alan McGee. Not surprisingly, the beginning of the film portrays the rebellious behavior of an ordinary family and different experiences when traveling with friends to different places. Regardless of how McGee affirmed his bands, there are two scenes that truly showcase his success. First, he was always the one finding stages for the band in front of others. Second, since he was a rebel, he stuck to his own beliefs and style. Of course, the final quote, 'Don't try to change the river's course; learn to build bridges and communicate so that others understand,' really teaches us how to change our prejudices.

Two reviews for the price of one.

Creation Stories (2021) & 24 Hour Party People (2002) why have I grouped these reviews together quite simply they both deal with the running of two record companies Creation & Factory and their larger then life managers Alan McGee (Creation) and Tony Wilson (Factory) but then you knew that anyway.

McGee is played by Ewan Bremner (imagine Spud from Trainspotting on speed, you get the idea) and Tony Wilson played by Steve Coogan (well its's Tony Wilson with a dose of Richard Madeley for extra cringe factor) various musicians appear throughout look out for them, a special mention to McGee's dad, played by Richard Jobson who is played with menace and a constant threat which is terrifying, although no ones dad was ever that muscular or as hard as nails.

The format is very similar, fast paced with lots of drugs helping to manage the various talents on the labels. In Creation its, My Bloody Valentine, Primal Scream and yawn Oasis.

Factory Joy Division & Happy Monday amongst many.

Musically you get lots of snippets of music from all of the above named bands, some of which are excellent Joy Division for example are great and makes you wanna reach out for their CDs.

Are the films any good? Both great and enjoyable with a great pace, laced with humour and what ever drug they were taking at the time.

Creation Stories I'd give a ecstasy fuelled 7/10 losing a point for the Scottish dialect which at time I couldn't fathom at all (sadly no subtitles which it clearly needs) 24 Hour Party People 8/10 for having some of the best bands ever.

Watch them both to see how exciting music and watching bands can be.

Peehaps the saddest shot of Creation Stories is Mcgee looking through the window of a stack it high supermarket at the now defunkt record shop, that and all the new Labour junk and Jimmy Saville.