Steve Coogan, forever tied to his legendary comic creation Alan Partridge, has appeared in a varied range of film roles in recent years, acting in biopics, voicing animated characters and of course recently starring as the aforementioned Partridge in the long awaited ALPHA PAPA. To celebrate the release of THE LOOK OF LOVE out on DVD & Blu-ray on August 19th, we take a look at a selection of Coogan’s cinematic roles.
Paul Raymond – The Look of Love (2012)
Paul Raymond, otherwise known as the King of Soho, was a bold and brave businessman during a time of social change. He is most famous for his strip clubs in Soho during the 1960’s that brought him an obscene amount of wealth, which led to the launching of Paul Raymond Publications and soft porn magazines. After watching video footage and talking with the Liverpudlian’s family and friends, Steve Coogan was able to bring his character back to life, showing his close relationship with his daughter Debbie Raymond and how drugs were the downfall of his family.
Alan Partridge – Alpha Papa (2013)
After he first appeared on BBC Radio 4 with On The Hour back in 1991, Alan Partridge has become a UK phenomenon and Steve Coogan’s 20 year long comedy masterpiece. Coogan has mastered Alan’s insecure, superficial, social status obsessed personality, this year culminating in his very own action film. Acting as a negotiator during an armed takeover of the news station, Partridge looks to take advantage of the media buzz. As witty as he’s ever been, Coogan’s alter ego looks to be a hit with critics and viewers.
Tony Wilson – 24 Hour Party People (2002)
Despite being another biopic of a media mogul, 24 Hour Party People is a very different film. Tony Wilson, Cambridge educated journalist, knew he’d found ‘the future of music’ one night at a small concert featuring the Sex Pistols, and later sets up Factory Records who would sign Joy Division. Using a healthy dose of artistic license, the film depicts the defining foundations of the punk movement in Manchester and the later era-defining ‘Madchester’ scene of the late 80s and early 90s. See if you can spot a cameo from the real Tony Wilson.
Tristram Shandy – A Cock & Bull Story (2005)
In this book within a book within a film within a film, Coogan plays himself playing an actor. Based on the humourous eighteenth century book Tristam Shandy, famous for its long discussions of metaphysical concepts, the film employs layers of this outside the production of the film being made on screen. Using a documentary style, the lack of plot focus from the novel allows Coogan freedom to riff amusingly with co-star Rob Brydon unhindered by relevance to anything happening within what can be loosely described as the story. Damien Cockburn – Tropic Thunder (2008)
With a $92 million budget, this comedy action movie is only the fourth from director Ben Stiller. Coogan plays a fledgling director attempting to shoot an adaptation of a war novel written by John Tayback (Nick Nolte). What he and the rest of the production don’t realise is that their location is actually the territory of a violent heroin gang who view the film crew as a threat. The frustrated Coogan is a month behind schedule and stressing about his project, to amusing satirical effect. When he is blown up by a land mine, the actors believe it is a trick to add realism to their roles.Phileas Fogg – 80 Days Around the World (2004)
Taking David Niven’s role in the Oscar winning 1956 version of the film, the modern update with Jackie Chan is an amusing retelling that doesn’t take itself nearly as seriously. Coogan fits the shoes of mad inventor with surprising ease. His outlandish CGI inventions and trademark British humour in the face of almost certain death give the film a warm charm, and is representative of a self-awareness that the grandeur of its older adaptation won’t enthral modern audiences in the same way that it did half a century ago.
Ambassador Mercy – Marie Antoinette (2006)
The cult period film by Hollywood royalty Sophia Coppola put Coogan in a more minor role. Speaking of the director, he said “You know that if Sofia Coppola’s going to make a costume drama it’s not going to be ordinary ... The reason I did that movie was because of her.” Like many in the industry, he prefers the freedom of independent filmmaking, but made exception on this occasion. An uncommon non-comedic role for the actor, Coogan proves he can tackle this type of character with a flourish. The Look Of Love will be released on 19th August on DVD
and Blu-ray
.