The Boat That Rocked

Posted on March 30, 2009 at 9:30 am by lkeddie | Permalink

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Out to own on DVD & Blu-ray NOW

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There’s only one way to feel after watching British film-making maestro Richard Curtis’s musical trip down memory lane, and that’s one hundred per cent ‘uplifted’. This rocking medley totally captures the exhilarating and life-changing nature of pirate radio in the late 60s - whether you were fortunate to experience it first hand, or not. Actually, it doesn’t matter because what The Boat That Rocked does is symbolise the magic of youth and the strong feelings of experiencing something thrilling, unique and forbidden for the first time. In allowing Curtis to indulge on his fondest memories with this tale, we receive a happy wave of nostalgia, many laughs and some top tunes.

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The brilliant and highly spirited cast, from Bill Nighy playing a rock god once more (as in Curtis’s 2003 Love Actually), to Philip Seymour Hoffman as a natural on the decks, literally lifts the characters off the page, breathing life into the huge egos of ‘Radio Rock’, a ship full of free love and uncompromising individuality, transmitting to the waiting masses. The talent appears to revel in playing their parts, and we pick up on that enthusiasm, enjoying the ride and getting to know the personalities. The momentum of the film is kept fresh and alive by the hand-held cinematography that really puts the audience in the corridors, bunkers and studios onboard with the radio gang.

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In a wonderfully delightful contrast to the colour, ultra coolness and unpredictability of Radio Rock is Kenneth Branagh as stiff, pompous and conservative Minister Dormandy, sporting a dubiously fascist moustache and equally totalitarian ways, and spouting hilariously cutting remarks that include a play on the surname of his unfortunate aid, Twatt, played by the dashing Jack Davenport. Branagh and Davenport provide the film’s stark contrast and bumbling, Ealing-comedy-style humour in spades. In particular, there is a marvellous Christmas cracker scene at Minister Dormandy’s residence that will have you crying with laughter.

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The Boat That Rocked is an absolute must for music lovers, with tracks from The Kinks to The Who, and a recreation of the famous Abbey Road crossing by the Beatles in a boozy stag-do night out for the DJs. The film accumulates into a Titanic/Dunkirk moment at the end that flies the British flag with pride, and emphasises that solidarity and determined nature of our nation. Radio Rock is a beacon of hope and vitality to a dependent population. In fact the whole rock playlist is a tribute to British musical talent, highlighted by the rock and pop album covers of the decades in the end credits.

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You will be disappointed when this boat finally comes to its watery end because it absolutely ROCKS with an outstanding cast to match. The Boat That Rocked is one to watch and toe-tap/head-nod to over and over again.

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By Lisa Keddie

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Synopsis

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The Boat That Rocked is 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, incomprehensibly, prefers jazz.

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In 1966 - British pop music’s finest era - the BBC played just 2 hours of rock and roll every week. But pirate radio played rock and pop from the high seas 24 hours a day. And 25 million people - over half the population of Britain - listened to the pirates every single day.

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Recently expelled from school, Carl (Sturridge) has been sent by his mother to find some direction in life by visiting his godfather Quentin. However, Quentin is the boss of Radio Rock, a pirate radio station in the middle of the North Sea, populated by an eclectic crew of rock ‘n’ roll DJs.

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They are led by The Count (Seymour Hoffman) - big, brash, American, god of the airwaves, and totally in love with the music. He’s faithfully backed up by his co-broadcasters Dave (Frost) - ironic, intelligent and cruelly funny; Simon (O’Dowd) - super-nice and searching for true love; Midnight Mark (Wisdom) - enigmatic, handsome and man of few words; Wee Small Hours Bob - the late night DJ, whose hobbies are folk music and drugs; Thick Kevin (Brooke) - possessor of the smallest intelligence known to mankind; On-The-Hour John (Adamsdale) - the newsreader; and Angus ‘The Nut’ Nutsford (Darby) - possibly the most annoying man in Britain.

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Life on the North Sea is eventful. Simon finds the woman of his dreams and is married on the boat…only to be left by his bride the next day. Gavin (Ifans) returns from his drug tour of America to his rightful position as greatest DJ in Britain and, in doing so, clashes with the Count. And Carl discovers the opposite sex and who his real father is.

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Meanwhile, pirate stations have come to the attention of government minister Dormandy (Branagh) who is out for the blood of these lawbreakers. In an era when the stuffy corridors of power stifle anything approaching youthful exuberance, Dormandy seizes the chance to score a political goal and The Marine Broadcasting Offences Act is passed in an effort to outlaw the pirates and remove their ghastly influence from the land once and for all.

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What results is a literal storm on the high seas. With Radio Rock in peril, it’s devoted fans rally together and stage an epic Dunkirk-style hundred boat rescue to save their DJ heroes. Some things may come to an end, but rock ‘n’ roll never dies.

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Film Facts

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Official site: http://www.theboatthatrocked.co.uk/

UK Release Date: 1st April 2009

Director: Richard Curtis

Writer: Richard Curtis

Cast: Philip Seymour Hoffman (’The Count’), Bill Nighy (’Quentin’), Rhys Ifans (’Gavin’), Nick Frost (’Dave’), Kenneth Branagh (’Minister Dormandy’), Tom Sturridge (’Carl’), Jack Davenport (’Twatt’), Chris O’Dowd (’Simon’), Rhys Darby (’Angus’), Ralph Brown (’Bob’), Will Adamsdale (’John’), Tom Brooke (’Thick Kevin’), Tom Wisdom (’Mark’), Katherine Parkinson (’Felicity’), Ike Hamilton (’Harold’), January Jones (’Eleonore’), Talulah Riley (’Marianne’), Emma Thompson (’Charlotte’), Gemma Arterton (’Desiree)