Overlooked & under appreciated

Rating: 9/10 (12 July 2014)

Another film I rented because of the trailer and because of the cast. And I loved it. I understand that what I saw was the gutted "short" version made for US viewing. I would love to find the original but even the version I saw was wonderfully funny and genuinely touching in parts. And the cast! Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy, Rhys Ifans (what an interesting actor he is) Kenneth Braugnah (spelling? eek!) and Nick Frost! Really, I mean WOW!
This film has received a lot of negative reviews and bombed at the box office. I would simply like to urge viewers who see the value in smaller films, who are not driven to stand in line for the next block buster, who enjoy ensemble casts and British humor, to give it a shot. Bill Nighy alone is worth the rental fee. Yes, there are flaws. Yes, some of the sound track is questionable but it was fun to hear those old songs again, even the ones I didn't like.
One negative review stated that people who lived during the 60's were not nostalgic for the 60's, since they were living them. I think that may be a misinterpretation of the "Count's" comment (loosely paraphrased) that this will be "the best time of his life." That is not nostalgia, it is the gut wrenching awareness that no matter how long you live, no matter what else you do, this moment, this time, this place, will be the one by which all others are measured and the devastating knowledge that none will even come close. Those moments of insight do happen, I had one, and damn it, I was right!
Another negative review mentioned the interspersed montages of people listening to the radio show and said they were unnecessary. I disagree. This was a different time. Music of all types is available now 24/7 but not then.The montages show people from all walks of life listening to the same music played by the same DJ's. The "pirate" status of the show brought them together, made their listening more intense, gave it a kind of conspiratorial, us against them, quality and showing that helped with the ending.
So, if you like offbeat films, enjoy great performances, like to hear 60's music (even the stuff you didn't like then) and like to cheer for the good guys, check this film out. I for one would like to see it get the credit I think it deserves.