The Boat That Rocked

On November 13, Focus Features will release Pirate Radio. It's a foreign film that was actually released back in April in the UK (its original title was The Boat That Rocked). Directed by Richard Curtis (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Love Actually), it tells the story of a renegade group of DJ's that start broadcasting music on the radio from a ship off the coast of the UK (in international waters) during the 1960's, when BBC was the only licensed radio station and would only play about 2 hours of music a week. The movie isn't based off of any specific radio stations, but it does have some basis in reality.

Anchoring the cast is superb actor Philip Seymour Hoffman (I generally like his movies but will never forgive him for making me sit through Synecdoche, New York) as a DJ nicknamed "The Count." Joining him is one of this blogger's favorites, Bill Nighy (Underworld, Love Actually, Pirates of the Caribbean) as the boss of the radio station. Nick Frost (Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz) and Rhys Darby (Murray, the manager from HBO's Flight of the Conchords) will also star.

The movie received mix reviews back in the UK. But hopefully it won't disappoint. I think it's one I'll be seeing. Here's the preview: