Long live rock n' roll!

Rating: 9/10 (29 November 2009)

It's hard to imagine a world without rock and roll, but just a little over forty years ago it was considered by many to be offensive, rebellious, and a storm on the horizon. The "establishment" hadn't come to terms yet with this musical force, and that is the story of The Boat That Rocked.
Released under the title of Pirate Radio in North America, this is a fictionalized story about the rise of rock in the 1960s and the people who passed on the good vibrations to millions of listeners. This isn't strictly about people vs. the government, but about music, love, friendship, and freedom.
We are brought aboard the ship Radio Rock, the home of Britain's popular pirate radio station. Carl (Tom Sturrige), an adolescent, joins the crew of rogue disc jockeys and music enthusiasts in an attempt by his mother to find some direction in his life with the guidance of his godfather Quentin (Bill Nighy), the head of Radio Rock. If Carl's mother wanted him to have some sort of direction, the only direction he will find here is on the compass, and I question even that.
Carl encounters The Count (Phillip Seymour Hoffman), an American DJ whose passion for rock is matched by nothing else, except maybe women, but that is a close call. The Count is one of a host of other passionate DJs and rebellious rockers aboard the ship. But all is not well in the pirate radio business. The powers that be are doing all they can to shut the boat and others like it down. Sir Alistair Dormandy (Kenneth Branagh) leads the movement against the radio rockers, trying to make it illegal for them to broadcast in the open waters.
What I like so much about this film is how the story takes a free form like the lifestyle these rockers live by. The struggle between the government and rockers is prevalent throughout, but the random activities, encounters, and altercations are what make the movie so special. The random dances, sexual encounters with fans, and abundant supply of music are more than enough to please.
This film has a fantastic ensemble cast headed by Nighy, Hoffman, Branagh, Nick Frost, Rhys Darby, Rhys Ifan, and an excellent cameo by Emma Thompson. Without their great efforts in bringing their characters to life, the film would have sunk, pun intended.
I was very surprised by this one. It's a great ensemble comedy that has a lot to offer to a lot of people.