Film: Pirate Radio
Cast includes: Philip Seymour Hoffman (Doubt), Bill Nighy (Pirates of the Caribbean), Tom Sturridge (Being Julia), Rhys Ifans (Greenberg), Emma Thompson (The Remains of the Day), Kenneth Branagh (Henry V)
Writer/Director: Richard Curtis (Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason)
Genre: Music/Comedy/Satire (2009)
In brief: What on earth could young Carl’s mom been have thinking? Carl’s been expelled from boarding school for smoking, and his mom is sending him out to Pirate Radio so he can “get sorted out.” It’s 1966 and Pirate Radio is the illegal radio station, broadcasting from a ship anchored in the North Sea off the coast of England. His godfather, Quentin, runs Pirate Radio and has agreed to look after the boy. But in reality, Carl soon becomes the project of the entire Pirate Radio crew. And what a crew it is! Most of them are DJs, who are committed to keeping the airways alive day and night with 60s counter-culture music… to the great consternation of the British Government, which has banned it. Life on board Pirate Radio is raucous, outrageous and irreverent… and that’s how it is on normal days. Every other Saturday… AKA Sensational Saturday… a boatload of beautiful screaming girls arrives for some carnal entertainment.
Is the British government going to take this lying down? Absolutely not! Sir Alistair Dormandy has promised the PM to rid the airways of this decadency and debauchery within the year. When his plan of attack seems to be making a dent in Pirate Radio’s advertising revenue, Quentin comes up with a plan to win the advertisers back. He convinces Gavin Canavagh… the greatest DJ Pirate Rock has ever had… to return. This is fabulous news for everyone… except for The Count of Cool… who’s been Pirate Rock’s star DJ for the past two years. That’ll be good for a few skirmishes. But don’t expect all-out war. After all, there’s still a war on with the British government. And it’s likely to get ugly.
Pirate Radio is a souped-up trip down memory lane… the music, the fashion, the jellybean colors. It’s inspired by a true story, when radio stations got around bans on playing certain songs by broadcasting from ships. Pirate Radio is brimming with wacky characters and wacky stories. But when push comes to shove, the crew will have to pull together if they’re going to prevail on their noble mission… broadcasting rock to the British people. This one isn’t for those who objects to raucous, irreverent humor. Pirate Radio is chocked full of outrageous antics. Philip Seymour Hoffman is amazing (as usual). Hell! They’re all amazing!!! Be sure to check out the outtakes.
4 popped kernels
Popped kernels for great fun, great music. Loved all the wacky characters.
