Killing Bono reviewed by Mark Kermode

Mark reviews the Irish comedy about two musician brothers trying to make it in the shadow of old schoolfriends U2.

[@woodbell67]

I was hoping this was a documentary.

[@FatLeonard84]

I love how Kermode is trying his hardest to take the piss out of Bono, and Mayo is having none of it!

[@thyop89]

Mark channeling Neil McCorrmick's obsession with Bono for this entire review was brilliant. I'm not a U2 fan at all. Loved the movie and thought the central performances from Ben Barnes and Robert Sheehan were excellent. I'm particularly impressed to learn that Ben Barnes really sang and recorded all of his vocal performances for the film. He has a great voice. He could be the next Biro.

[@DuffPaddy1]

Bono and The Edge didn't give themselves those names. Bono was given the name Bonavox by the his friends and The Edge was given the name by Bono because of his jaw line.

[@DuffPaddy1]

Read the book. It's unbelievably better and if you don't like U2 it won't make a difference since the whole point is that they are in the distance.

[@WAAAAAAAAAAAY]

I'd like to know what Kermode thought of "How To Lose Friends And Alienate People"

[@K33f11]

Paul Biro 😎

[@CaptainFryingpan]

Surely that laptop is too small for those hands.

[@eddenoy321]

Kermode and Mayo once tried to beat out Penn and Teller way back when.

[@imedi]

as far as i know they had those nick names as kids growing up long before they were in u2 they have other friends with strange names that were never in the band

[@DuffPaddy1]

Whatever you think of U2 or Mayo and Kermode's differing opinions of them, Kermode gets the film spot on. Love how they're debating whether or not Bono is a nice guy when one of the links next to this video is the pair of them actually meeting Bono and Adam. The book is infinitely better than the film regardless what you think of U2 or Bono. Not of this gangster nonsense that's in the film.

[@scr4pp7]

Why is the doctor not in uniform?

[@fromchomleystreet]

Kermode looks like he’s about to deck this guy if he interrupts his flow just one more time with another inane comment.

[@hanshotfirst1138]

Well played, Simon. Well played :-D. I wonder if Bono once kicked Mark's puppy or something :p.

[@HarveyRB]

kisimbo kwasa

[@Vebinz]

@checkoutgirl I Up'm no fan of U2 either, but they have been around for decades and have world-wide appeal, so the Bieber comparison doesn't hold up. At some point when a musician is doing well for so long and has many fans around the world, the should be taken seriously as accomplished musicians, even if one doesn't personally like them.

[@ZuluRomeo]

Who is this denim-clad guy and what has he done to Mark Kermode?

[@TheHappydead]

@69crafty Ive gotta disagree, but each to his own, Iam some what biased as I was unlucky enough to witness The Edge and Billy Bragg murder music forever at a festival a few years back. I think south park dealt with bono (80 courics) best

[@shawndimery]

@antoireland09 Britney Spears has sold more records and won more awards that Bob Dylan and Neil Young, does that mean she is better? NO

[@KangoTV]

I just read your username... you didn't need me to tell you that did you. Until next time...

[@manconoo]

@TheHappydead So wrong.

[@KruppaF]

i absolutely loved this film and its a shame that dr k cant see past his dispise for bono. i think it addresses the obsession with fame and fortune very well. eh well he cant get it right every time. btw i think th chubby hmm moment was when neil and paul are standing at the chipshop at the docks and paul says you would look good as a rockstar and neil says "you too". paul goes "you too...hmmm..."

[@checkoutgirl]

U2 are very broadly appealing, anthemic and if you're a music fan, quite annoying. Bono was named after a hearing aid shop called Bonavox. U2 are more popular than McDonalds and this makes me distrust them instinctively. If awards meant anything at all, we would have to take Britney Spears seriously. If popularity equaled musical excellence and intrigue, I would have to start listening to Justin Bieber. Luckily awards and popularity are usually incompatible with charm.

[@TheHappydead]

well that means nothing does it cliff richards has 4 or 5 brit awards and some ivor novello awards..etc, Westlife have had more number ones than beatles or something ridiculous, success quite often doesnt equate to quality. Sales and awards mean nothing to me and they definetly shouldnt be the yards stick used to measure how good a band is, the truth is U2 are a middle of the road band who excell in mediocrity

[@TheHappydead]

Im often told that U2 wer once good but I have yet to find any evidence of it

[@KangoTV]

Correct, that was probably the worst judgement in this film. Making it look like Bono demanded to be called by a single 'stagename' when in fact he had little choice in the matter and it just stuck. ps the top rated commenter might have it right about number ones but doesn't have a clue about this band. U2 would not be so loved or so hated if they did mediocrity. They are many leagues away from middle of the road as well.