Pirates of the North Sea

Rating: 10/10 (5 December 2009)

Not knowing about the events depicted in "The Boat That Rocked" (called "Pirate Radio" in the United States) makes it all the more fun. The story of a ship that broadcast rock 'n' roll into England, to the disfavor of the British government, just might be the year's best film (I'm saying this having already seen "An Education", which I highly recommend). At the very least, this one is an excuse to hear some of history's greatest music. But it also gives a sense of what the '60s were all about. Philip Seymour Hoffman is clearly having a great time playing the ship's free-spirited DJ, and Kenneth Branagh evokes quite a few laughs as a stuffy government minister aiming to ban rock music. A great time every step of the way.
Also starring Bill Nighy, Rhys Ifans, Nick Frost, Katherine Parkinson, Tom Sturridge, Tom Brooke, Chris O'Dowd, Rhys Darby, Will Adamsdale, Tom Wisdom, Ralph Brown, Ike Hamilton, Jack Davenport, Emma Thompson, Talulah Riley, January Jones, Gemma Arterton, Sinead Matthews, Stephen Moore and Olegar Fedoro.
PS: Tony Benn, on whom Branagh's character was based, was interviewed by Michael Moore in "Sicko". His character is very fictionalized here.