Pirate Radio Rocks

It was the 1960s and rock n' roll was the devil.

The British government bans rock music from being played on the radio, leaving teenagers in despair. Have no fear. Where there are tyrants, there are outlaws and illegal music never sounded so sweet coming from a pirate radio ship.

I literally never wanted the movie to end within the first twenty minutes. The script was charming, the actors even more so. I can also safely say that this movie met my standards of a great comedy the moment it named one of the "bad guys" Twatt -- two t's. Though, I assure you, it is a movie much more sophisticated than this one joke suggests.

I was smitten with newcomer Tom Sturridge upon first glance. He was incredibly cute as Carl, a young man dropped into a ship of sex, drugs, and rock n' roll. Philip Seymour Hoffman was amazing -- as usual! His comedy was spot on and he was an integral part of the movie. I was rooting for "The Count" and his pirates the whole way through. All of the actors -- including the villains -- played their parts exceptionally well and it looked as if they had a tremendous time making the film together. I would give anything to be on that boat with them!

There was not one song they played that I did not like. To name a few musical groups: The Kinks, The Stones, Grateful Dead, The Who, Jimi Hendrix, Procul Harum, The Moody Blues, The Turtles, and The Beach Boys. If that is not enough to make you want to watch the movie, well you're fucking nuts. I was a little disappointed that they only mentioned The Beatles by name, but I could live with it. I'm sure the rights of their music had very much to do with this disappointment. If the Beatles do not even own the rights to their own music, I'm sure it was a difficult notion to contemplate.

I was smiling the entire time, and I'm still smiling just thinking about the film. Rock n' Roll changed several lives and this film, although only a film, is firm proof of that. It will make you want to invite a few friends over, put on some rock and roll, and dance the night away with a cigarette in one hand and a bottle of alcohol in the other. If that is not a good time, well I just don't know what is.

Tom Sturridge <3>