Pirate Radio (The Boat That Rocked)

Everywhere else on the planet but here in the US this movie was called The Boat That Rocked. A more fitting title. These guys rocked the UK in the mid 1960s but they were as far from pirates as you and I. That said, this is the best movie I've seen in a while.

Bill Nighy plays the crusty but dignified financier of a floating radio station that beams banned music into the UK. His gang of DJs includes some great performances by Philip Seymour Hoffman as the only Yank; Nick Frost as Doctor Dave; Rhys Darby as Angus Nutsford; Chris O'Dowd as Simple Simon; Tom Brooke as Thick Kevin; Tom Wisdom as Midnight Mark; Will Adamsdale as News John; Ralph Brown as Bob Silver; and Rhys Ifans as Gorgeous Gavin Cavanagh.

Also featured are Kenneth Branagh as the cabinet member charged with shutting the station down and Jack Davenport as his "private assassin". Tom Sturridge plays Young Carl who comes aboard ship at the beginning of the story when he is kicked out of school. His mother is played briefly by Emma Thompson. Too many names already?

The music they play is mostly authentic period stuff, but the non broadcast soundtrack was mostly recorded after the time covered in the movie and intended for familiar dramatic impact. It works. There are too many other little mistakes to count, but the movie moves so quickly you may not catch them.

Watch this movie with someone who knows the words to at least half the songs. Make it a sing-along?