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?

Last Chance Harvey

If you think this romantic comedy is for baby boomers only, please think again. This movie was recommended to me by my daughter. She said it was cute. I totally agree. But it is far more than that. It is a deep story about accepting change when it comes into your life.

While Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson may not be fireworks on screen, they are two great actors and they were very convincing in their roles. They played characters the audience can relate to and care about. No doubt there are times in all of our lives when we feel a bit like one of these people.

Other cast members come and go from this story, but from the very beginning it is about these two people who find themselves way outside their comfort levels and in a position to lose everything to gain want they want. In the end, everyone gets pretty much what they want. Even the nosy, bored, lonely, cancer-survivor mother of Thompson's character.

Watch this movie with someone who resists change at every turn.