The Boat That Rocked (2009)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Richard Curtis

Writer:

Richard Curtis (writer)

Release Date:

13 November 2009 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Music | Romance

Tagline:

1 Boat. 8 DJs. No Morals.

Plot:

A period comedy about an illegal radio station in the North Sea in the 1960's.

Plot Keywords:

North Sea | Pop Music | 1960s | American | Pirate Radio

Cast

Michael Hadley	...	Mr. Roberts
Charlie Rowe	...	James
Lucy Fleming	...	Mrs. Roberts
Philip Seymour Hoffman	...	The Count
Tom Sturridge	...	Carl
Ian Mercer	...	Transfer Boatman
Bill Nighy	...	Quentin
Will Adamsdale	...	News John
Tom Brooke	...	Thick Kevin
Rhys Darby	...	Angus
Nick Frost	...	Dave
Katherine Parkinson	...	Felicity
Chris O'Dowd	...	Simon
Ike Hamilton	...	Harold
Stephen Moore	...	Prime Minister

Also Known As:

Good Morning England (France)
Pirate Radio (USA) (new title)
Radio Rock Revolution (Germany)

MPAA:

Rated R for language, and some sexual content including brief nudity.

Runtime:

135 min

Country:

UK | Germany | USA | France

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS | DTS

Certification:

USA:R | Ireland:15A | Finland:K-11 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Germany:12 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:7 | Sweden:7 | Singapore:NC-16 (cut) | France:U | UK:15 | South Korea:18 | Portugal:M/12 | New Zealand:M | Australia:M | Japan:PG12 | USA:R (certificate #45019) | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Gambardella's Cafe, Blackheath Standard, London, England, UK

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Although purely fictional, the film does reference many of the actual events surrounding pirate radio. Namely, like the pirate radio ship, the Ross Revenge', the movie's ship is red with the station's name in white paint on the deck. Radio Caroline's ship, the Mi Amiga sank, complete with fleeing DJs unable to save the ship's vast record collection and as in the film's finale, its extremely high mast rose out of the sea where it stayed for many months. Also a DJ did marry on a pirate radio ship as Simon does in the film. Additionally the DJs are seemingly composites of popular radio personalities of the time such as Tony Blackburn (also unlucky in love in his early days ala Simon Swafford, when his rocky marriage become apparent in his radio show) and the wacky Kenny Everett has traits similar to Angus Nutsford. Dave Lee Travis, Whispering Bob Harris, American DJ Emperor Rosko and Johnnie Walker also are seemingly portrayed in the film.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: One of the cars in a London street scene has a 1967 registration although the film is set in 1966.

Quotes:

Quentin: Gentlemen, I have some good news and some bad news. Which would you prefer?
Thick Kevin: Good news.
Quentin: Okay. The good news is the engine has exploded and we're all going to die.
Dave: Hello, Dr Dave, Radio Rock. How is that good news?
Quentin: I haven't yet told you how we're going to die. That's the bad news.
Simon: How are we gonna die?
Quentin: We're going to drown in the freezing waters of the North Sea.
Felicity: Dearie me.
Quentin: There is a huge hole in the side of the boat and in an unfortunate development, it transpires that the lifeboats are useless.
Thick Kevin: [to Angus] Actually, that's quite good for you, isn't it? 'Cause you can't swim, so you'll die quicker.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Featured in 81st Annual Academy Awards (2009) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Let's Spend The Night Together

It Rocked Indeed.

I have to say, that this is by far the most inspirational film I've seen to date. To feel the emotion, to care about the cause, to loath the oppression. Just the idea, that few can make a difference in this dark, depressing situation. it gives hope, it gives emotion, it gives life, but only if you can truly see it for what it is. It was an incredible tale, with many aspects of human flaws, and human greatness. We all have to believe we can make a difference, rather then blindly ignore the real problems. But if ignorance is your bliss, then sadly evolution as individual, is not.

Music is Love, Peace.