Movie Review: Pirate Radio (2009)
Review summary
Pirate Radio hits the airwaves and it’s a hysterical ride. This is based on a true story. These DJs were at sea and the British officials were after them. According to Richard Curtis (who spoke after the October 21, San Francisco pre-screening), the pirate radio station this film is based on, actually had about 20 million listeners. That kind of influence was likely a very big problem for the British government.
Some critics point to the character development, plot and the length as huge weaknesses. But, by the time you get to the end of the film you realize how much you like the characters despite how little you know about them. Sometimes when you meet new people, you just like ‘something’ about them and are willing to go with it – especially when they make you laugh as hard as this crew does.
The audience at the San Francisco pre-screening laughed out loud throughout, gave the movie a closing round of applause and left the theater talking to perfect strangers. There was a definite buzz and people were feeling good. The smell of box office hit is all over this movie. Sometimes people just want a good, deep down from the inside, where it really counts, laugh. This movie provides plenty.
Synopsis:
The official synopsis describes Pirate Radio as “the newest ensemble comedy from filmmaker Richard Curtis (screenwriter of Four Weddings and a Funeral and Notting Hill, and writer/director of Love Actually), spinning the irreverent yet fact-based tale of a seafaring band of rogue rock and roll deejays whose “pirate radio” captivated and inspired 1960s Britain." An unofficial synopsis goes something like this. Rock and Roll emerges all over the world in the ‘60s and the Britain government only plays rock and roll 2 hours a day. So a crew of rogue DJs: Quentin (Bill Nighy), The Count (Philip Seymour Hoffman), 'Doctor' Dave (Nick Frost), 'Young' Carl (Tom Sturridge), Gavin Cavanagh (Rhys Ifans), Angus 'The Nut' Nutsford (Rhys Darby), Think Kevin (Tom Brooke), 'Simple' Simon Swafford (Chris O'dowd), 'Midnight' Mark (Tom Wisdom) and Bob Silver 'the Dawn Treader' (Ralph Brown) take to the North Sea (outside of British jurisdiction) in an old fishing boat, broadcasting the music they love and the people want to hear 24/7. But one of the misters Sir Alistair Dormandy (Kenneth Branagh) is none to pleased, so our rogue heros have to deal with the his plots and schemes to put them out of business, but they have a raucous good time doing it enjoying sex, drugs and rock and roll. The plot is that simple, but it has to accommodate the music, which is the real star of the show.
Cast:
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy, Rhys Ifans, Nick Frost, Kenneth Branagh, Tom Sturridge, Jack Davenport (Twatt), Chris O’Dowd, Rhys Darby, Ralph Brown, Will Adamsdale (John), Tom Brooke (Thick Kevin), Tom Wisdom Katherine Parkinson (Felicity), Ike Hamilton (’Harold’), January Jones (Eleonore), Talulah Riley (Marianne), Emma Thompson (Charlotte), Gemma Arterton (Desiree) and all of the great rock and roll from the 60’s.
Release Date: 13 November 2009 (USA). Directed by Richard Curtis; written by Richard Curtis, full cast and credits; released by Focus Features. Running time: 135 minutes; MPAA Rating: R; genre: Comedy.
