'Pirate Radio'

'Pirate Radio' (R) ***

Written and Directed by Richard Curtis
Starring: Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy, Rhys Ifans, Nick Frost, Kenneth Branagh, Tom Sturridge

Rock n'Roll will never die! That is the spirit that is behind the very entertaining "Pirate Radio". It is such a true statement as we all know and to think so long ago certain people wanted to shut it down. That is the goal behind Kenneth Branagh's politician who is trying to shut down a radio station broadcast from the seas in a giant ship. The time is the mid 60's and a slew of British bands were hitting it big and not any radio stations were broadcasting rock and roll 24/7. A motley crew of DJs aboard a ship started to play rock music against government wishes. The Parliament found it immoral and the material disgusting. Though this is not a message movie and it is not a history lesson. This is a light and entertaining movie with a killer rock soundtrack that you must own right away. You have The Kinks, Cat Stevens, The Turtles, The Beach Boys, The Yardbirds and The Seekers and many more (no Beatles though). This movie could have been an excuse to just sell a soundtrack but I found this movie fun and charming. The cast is great including one of our best American actors and some British legends. You have Phillip Seymour Hoffman as the lone American DJ. You also have Rhys Ifans (Notting Hill), Bill Nighy (Love, Actually) and Kenneth Branagh who are all great. You have beautiful women, nice surprise cameos and wall to wall great rock music. This is the same creators and director who gave us "Love Actually" (a modern Christmas classic) and they know how to entertain. You don't need to be a genius to give us a good entertaining time and these guys know it. Just sit back, enjoy the actors and listen to some great music.