Pirate Radio

Pirate Radio hails from writer and director Richard Curtis, the man behind some of your favorite movies such as Love Actually and Notting Hill. Inspired by the true story of how the British government attempted to ban rock n’ roll from the radio at the height of its existence, Richard Curtis brings us the musically inspiring film, Pirate Radio.

Pirate Radio is a rock n’ roll comedy about a group of quirky, rebellious deejays and their love and devotion to rock n’ roll and pop music. The film is set in the 60’s, at the crucial height of rock n’ roll. This group of deejays, led by American deejay, The Count (Philip Seymour Hoffman), took to the seas to broadcast twenty-four hours a day on Rock Radio after it was banned by the British government. Based on an old tanker in the middle of the North Sea, the pirate-run radio station was not breaking any laws. However, the government despised Rock Radio and was devoted to shutting it down.

Carl (Tom Sturridge), a newbie to the ship, is thrown into the Rock Radio family after his mother sends him there to live with his Godfather Quentin (Bill Nighy), the fashionable owner and captain of Rock Radio. Carl joins the seafaring Rock Radio family of pirate deejays and experiences a high climbing and diving deejay war, man-overboard swimming lessons, a proudly broadcast loss of Carl’s own virginity along with a stand-off battle with the British government and hilariously dramatic Titanic-esque events.

I absolutely loved Pirate Radio! It is hilariously inspiring and there is not a single dull moment. I appreciated the devotion the deejays had to rock n’ roll, their jobs, and their listeners. Additionally, I enjoyed the scenes where you see the deejays broadcasting and then it cuts to the millions listening. Some of the kids would be secretly listening with the radio underneath their pillow and unexpected listeners would be dancing around their hand held radios.

Pirate Radio is incredibly entertaining and it will definitely be added to my list of favorites right underneath Almost Famous and That Thing You Do. This film is gender friendly with an emphasis on comedy, great music and a little bit of a romance to keep everyone attentive.

As an obvious bonus, Pirate Radio has a great soundtrack filled with popular 60’s rock n’ roll from bands like The Who, Cream, The Kinks, The Turtles and The Rolling Stones. You will be tapping your foot and bobbing your head to the upbeat music in this film.