Insert your own wisecrack about sinking here

Rating: 6/10 (16 September 2010)

First things first, this review pertains to the British release of the film, titled "The Boat That Rocked". The American release, titled "Pirate Radio", had 20 minutes hacked out of it, which may or may not have been an improvement.
The story, such as it is, concerns a pirate radio station operating aboard a ship at sea near the British Isles in the mid 1960's. A young man joins the crew following his expulsion from school and experiences the craziness of life at Radio Rock (ie. sex, drugs & rock 'n' roll). Meanwhile, strait-laced government types are busy doing their damnedest to shut down the pirate radio stations.
The cast is impressive, which is a pity because the script certainly isn't. Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy, Rhys Ifans, Kenneth Branagh and others all hit the mark but the script pretty much goes nowhere. The admittedly excellent soundtrack is often used as a substitute for storytelling and the whole venture seems rambling and pointless.
In the end, the movie is mostly notable as an example of squandered talents. The sharp acting & killer soundtrack lend it some measure of respectability but the story can best be described as a mess. You'll have to decide for yourself whether or not that's an acceptable mixture.