Killing Bono (2011)
Average Rating: 5.4/10
Reviews Counted: 42
Fresh: 23 | Rotten: 19
No consensus yet.
Average Rating: 5.9/10
Critic Reviews: 10
Fresh: 6 | Rotten: 4
No consensus yet.
liked it
Average Rating: 3.2/5
User Ratings: 4,841
My Rating
Movie Info
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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Cast
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Ben Barnes
Neil McCormick -
Robert Sheehan
Ivan McCormick -
Krysten Ritter
Gloria -
Peter Serafinowicz
Hammond -
Pete Postlethwaite
Karl -
Martin McCann
Bono -
Justine Waddell
Danielle -
-
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Lisa McAllister
Erika -
Luke Treadaway
Nick -
Ralph Brown
Leo
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Killing Bono Trailer & Photos
All Critics (42) | Top Critics (10) | Fresh (23) | Rotten (20) | DVD (3)
While Barnes and Sheehan are persuasive as the squabbling siblings, the music-biz mockery is blunt and obvious.
Top CriticA charming admixture of "Goodfellas" and "Almost Famous," "Killing Bono" is a fanciful rock tale that is nevertheless based on a true story.
A shapeless rock-music caper that, like its deluded antihero, just doesn't know when to stop.
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.
The migraine of a story arc needed sharp comedy reflexes or, at least, a live-wire/slummy star turn and got neither.
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.
An amusingly fluffy musical biopic.
the story of what would charitably be called a wackadoo
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?
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.
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.
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.
It's certainly lightweight, but there's nothing at all wrong with that. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
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.
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.
It's awash with broad humour, comedic contrivances and sitcom setups.
[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...
Audience Reviews for Killing Bono
Super Reviewer
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- Karl: I'm telling people they're the next U2, only better looking, and gay.
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- Bono: You're looking at U2.
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- Bono: Aw Jesus lads. Make some space. Mick Jagger didn't have to deal with a bass in his face.
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