The Boat That Rocked (2009)
An ensemble comedy, where the romance is between the young people of the 60s, and pop music. It's about a band of DJs that captivate Britain, playing the music that defines a generation and standing up to a government that wanted control of popular culture via the British Broadcasting Corporation. Loosely based on the events in Britain in the 60's when the Labour government of Harold Wilson, wanted to bring the pirate radio stations under control, enough to see the passage of the Marine Broadcasting Offences Act on 15 August 1967. Also known as "Pirate Radio".
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Opening scene, man in armchair with Green Bay window behind him, the green radiator in the bay window in a modern one. When the Gov boats rush out to Radio Rock (in the 1960s) they are all new high speed inflatable ribs.
Other reviewers have said it all and very well. The whole thing is downright embarrassing. It seems to me this movie is hardly anything more than a rich catalog of gross macho clichés and randy fantasies about the sixties, seasoned with a great load of pitiful and obscene humour. It should probably rank high in the "American Pie" movie genre, but as a tribute to the era history, music and fight for freedom, this is but a failure of biblical magnitude. The characterization and the acting are about as subtle as a Monthy Python's. This mess of a movie made me positively cringe till I decided to jump off that stinking tub of a boat...
Great cast, great story, great music. I really can't understand how Pirate Radio isn't considered an absolute classic. A group of misfit DJs try to bring music to the citizens of England. The coming of age of a young godson and the lack of female companionship causes continual stress. Rhys Darby is brilliant as always, the entire cast does a fantastic job of selling the viewer on their job of bringing rock and roll to the masses despite their challenges. This film compares very strongly to Almost Famous, and shares the talent of Philip Seymour Hoffman. What a fun ride and make sure to watch the closing credits with all the great rock album covers of the last fifty years!
British humor, lovely characters, awesome actors and above all: the greatest soundtrack one could imagine for a 60s film. Fall in love with the music and dream of living on that boat with these characters. This film is full of excellent quotes and the costumes are brilliant (yes, I'd love to wear some of these today) Some might say it is too long and that there is too much unnecessary action for the storyline but this is exactly what makes this film so good. The viewer doesn't have the impression that there is a story to be told but that there was much fun and creativity involved. It all is just a lot of fun if you are not afraid of being took to the sea of peace, love and rock n' roll.