Killing Bono (2011)

55% of critics liked it
(42 reviews)
49% of users liked it
(4,608 ratings)

Killing Bono is a rock' n' roll comedy about two Irish brothers struggling to forge their path through the 1980's music scene, whilst the meteoric rise to fame of their old school pals U2 only serves to cast them deeper into the shadows. -- (C) Arc

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 54 min.
Directed By: Nick Hamm
Written By: Ben Bond, Dick Clement, Ian La Frenais, Neil McCormick
Genres: Art House & International, Comedy

In Theaters: Nov 4, 2011 Limited
On DVD: Jan 16, 2012
Studio: Cinedigm Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Mark Jenkins, NPR
While Barnes and Sheehan are persuasive as the squabbling siblings, the music-biz mockery is blunt and obvious.
Kyle Smith, New York Post
A charming admixture of "Goodfellas" and "Almost Famous," "Killing Bono" is a fanciful rock tale that is nevertheless based on a true story.
Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times
A shapeless rock-music caper that, like its deluded antihero, just doesn't know when to stop.
Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News
Hamm's movie is sparky and fun, and full of affectionate pokes at the '80s music scene. It's also, in terms of music biopics, probably better than the real thing.
Michael Atkinson, Village Voice
The migraine of a story arc needed sharp comedy reflexes or, at least, a live-wire/slummy star turn and got neither.
Christine Champ, Film.com
Funny, irreverent, slightly bitter, and brimming with self-importance and self-loathing.
Matt Singer, IFC.com
An amusingly fluffy musical biopic.
Chris Cabin, Filmcritic.com
the story of what would charitably be called a wackadoo
Alison Willmore, Movieline
Neil's not a very likable protagonist - he's actually often awful - but who can't relate to that nagging certainty that one's destined for great things?
Noel Murray, AV Club
There's a difference between "funny" and "comedy," and the movie adaptation of Killing Bono tries way too hard to be nutty, at the expense of just getting across what McCormick knows.
Joshua Rothkopf, Time Out New York
Amadeus it's not, but as light transitional music, the film-which has Pete Postlethwaite's final performance, as a swishy landlord-is tuneful enough.
Jesse Cataldo, Slant Magazine
Killing Bono never really gets going, mostly because it has no real idea of how to convey joy, pain, or any type of emotional progression.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Don't expect any factual expose about the formative years of U2; this is more of a rock farce in which the band is sort of a plot device.
Chris Bumbray, JoBlo's Movie Emporium
It's certainly lightweight, but there's nothing at all wrong with that. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Ethan Alter, Television Without Pity
Killing Bono's rise-and-fall arc is a little predictable, but the cast is spirited and U2 fans should get a kick out of the references to the band's early days.
Jason Best, Movie Talk
Like an overlong guitar solo, the film sags badly in the middle as mouthy Neil sabotages his own career again and again, but co-writers Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais provide plenty of gags and the performances are full of vim.
Ed Whitfield, What Culture
It's awash with broad humour, comedic contrivances and sitcom setups.
MaryAnn Johanson, Flick Filosopher
[O]ne of the most painfully funny movies I've ever seen... plays like a satire on rags-to-riches clichés even though it's mostly true...

Read all 18 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Joseph M

A very funny under rated film. Killing Bono maintains great humour and story telling for most of the film but is let down by it's jumpy scenes and it ends at the wrong time. ( You'll know what I mean when you see it) BUT overall a very very funny film. Great acting from the… More
A very funny under rated film. Killing Bono maintains great humour and story telling for most of the film but is let down by it's jumpy scenes and it ends at the wrong time. ( You'll know what I mean when you see it) BUT overall a very very funny film. Great acting from the two leading actors. Killing Bono is a suprisingly good British film...
Candy R

Very funny movie about Neil McCormick and his brother Ivan who want to be rock stars. But they are over shadowed by their school friend Paul aka Bono. This movie looks at the journey of the two brothers to rock bottom while U2 raise to stardom. Stars Ben Barnes. I was also an extra in… More
Very funny movie about Neil McCormick and his brother Ivan who want to be rock stars. But they are over shadowed by their school friend Paul aka Bono. This movie looks at the journey of the two brothers to rock bottom while U2 raise to stardom. Stars Ben Barnes. I was also an extra in the movie so it was very exciting to be a part of it and to watch it.
Eric B

The premise of "Killing Bono" -- that teen classmates of U2 would simultaneously form their own band and struggle for recognition while jealously watching Bono and company conquer the world -- should be irresistible to rock-music lovers. That it's based on a true story… More
The premise of "Killing Bono" -- that teen classmates of U2 would simultaneously form their own band and struggle for recognition while jealously watching Bono and company conquer the world -- should be irresistible to rock-music lovers. That it's based on a true story adds even more allure. Unfortunately, the facts were obviously embellished to create a more entertaining screenplay -- the self-destructive choices of the rival band's singer (who also wrote the book that inspired the film) are so wildly stupid that credibility is shot. I mean, really -- what member of an unsigned club band would turn down a chance to open for U2? As for depictions of U2 itself, most fans will be disappointed. None of the group's real members appear. Just one U2 song ("I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For") is on the soundtrack. The simulated group is barely shown performing, and only the "Bono" actor has a substantial part. He is a poor physical match. Sadly, the film's most memorable performance comes from the late Pete Postlethwaite as a homosexual landlord and mentor. It was his final role.
Jason R

Writer Neil McCormick's memoir about his failed attempt at becoming a world-famous musician. Is given the comedic-treatment in KILLING BONO. Which is highly entertaining and surprisingly good. No happy-endings or heroic feats for the main protagonists of this tale. Just a bunch… More
Writer Neil McCormick's memoir about his failed attempt at becoming a world-famous musician. Is given the comedic-treatment in KILLING BONO. Which is highly entertaining and surprisingly good. No happy-endings or heroic feats for the main protagonists of this tale. Just a bunch of shoulda's and coulda's. But, it is really fun watching the story unfold.
Andrew P

Killing Bono for the most part is a fun caper which is made all the more interesting, being loosely based on a true story. It's the tale of a band which had every opportunity to be as famous as their rivals, U2, however along the way they ruined every opportunity they had.… More
Killing Bono for the most part is a fun caper which is made all the more interesting, being loosely based on a true story. It's the tale of a band which had every opportunity to be as famous as their rivals, U2, however along the way they ruined every opportunity they had. It's a witty film with sharp dialogue, mostly thanks to Ben Barnes and Robert Sheehan. It's a shame that film feels like it is missing something, something a bit more coherent to make it glue together just a bit better. It's hard to explain, but it feels like the story jumps from point to point without cause. Overall it's worth a watch, just nothing special.
d j

Had funny moments.... Love Bono