Killing Bono loosely retells the story of Neil McCormick and his younger brother Ivan, two young Irish musicians who dream of becoming rock stars. While they struggle to get noticed, they watch their former schoolmates form U2, one of the biggest bands in the world. The film draws on Neil McCormick's autobiographical book, published in 2003.

How it was made

The project grew out of Neil McCormick's memoir, Killing Bono: I Was Bono's Doppelgänger. Nick Hamm directs a screenplay by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais. Ben Barnes and Robert Sheehan lead the cast, with Martin McCann playing Bono. The production shot in Northern Ireland with funding from Northern Ireland Screen. It was Pete Postlethwaite's final film, and he died before its release.

Reception and legacy

The film opened in the United Kingdom on 1 April 2011, distributed by Paramount Pictures, the company that had also released U2's Rattle and Hum. Critics were divided, and Metacritic gave it a weighted average of 46 out of 100. The New York Times called it shapeless, while others found its nuttiness excessive, though some praised the lead performances and the nods to the band's early days.

Stills

Trailer

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Trivia

Postlethwaite's last role

Pete Postlethwaite played Karl in what became his final film, released shortly after his death in 2011.

A link to U2

Paramount Pictures had also distributed U2's film Rattle and Hum, linking the release to the band at the story's centre.

More films by Nick Hamm

Godsend2004

The Hole2001

Martha, Meet Frank, Daniel and Laurence1998

Original Cinematopedia text based on Wikipedia (es) and Wikipedia (en) and Wikidata.