I intend to broadcast from this ship 24 hours a day until the day I die. And then for a couple days after that.

If you haven’t learned by now, I am something of a rogue. I am not fond of playing by the rules, an, in most cases, I will find a way to, well, not BREAK the rules, but, rather rope-a-dope my way around an occasional rule. Call it a lifelong fascination with pirates, or Jimmy Buffett music, or, hey, both, but that’s who I am and how I operate. If someone tells me it can’t be done, it’s more like a dare…

I am also a huge fan of music. Almost any music. I have issues with a few sub-genres, but, for the most part, my music collection is almost as large as my movie collection, and just as eclectic.

So, when I first heard about a movie called Pirate Radio, I immediately zoomed in on it, and I am so glad I did.

In the mid-1960’s, the British Invasion had taken the world of music by storm, except in one particular place. Ironically, citizens of the United Kingdom were not privy to the very music their countrymen were making because the BBC was not allowed to play pop music. British youth had to buy their music on the sly and hide it from their parents, or find other ways of listening. Thankfully, there were a few pirate radio stations around that danced up and down the airwaves, bringing the music to the masses. In his case, the station is located on a ship anchored off the coast of Great Britain, and manned by a motley crew of DJ’s who kept the music going 24/7/365.

One morning, a small craft comes alongside the Pirate Radio ship to drop off young Carl (Tom Sturridge). He has been sent to spend time with his godfather, Quentin (Bill Nighy), who is the “captain” of sorts of the ship, allegedly to “straighten the young man out.” Quentin introduces Carl to the rest of the crew – The Count (Philip Seymour Hoffman, from our last movie), the ex-patriated American who is the star of the station; Simon (the always great Chris O’Dowd), a slightly awkward guy who dreams of finding romance; News John (Will Adamsale), who does news and weather; Dave (Nick Frost, of Coronetto Trilogy fame), who is extremely popular with the ladies; Angus (Rhys Darby), whom nobody seems to like, but runs a comedy show; And Felicity (Katherine Parkinson), a lesbian who cooks for the crew. Carl is left to room with Thick Kevin (Tom Brooke), who is just unbelievably stupid.

Quentin also announces that Gavin (Rhys Ifans), an incredibly popular British DJ who is making his return to the UK after an extensive “drug and music tour” of America, and he wants his crown back as THE HOTTEST DJ on the air. Quentin is making this move because a very conservative politician, Sir Alastair Dormandy (Kenneth Branagh) and his lackey, Twatt (… yes that is his name… played by Jack Davenport), have pushed a bill through to make it illegal or British companies to advertise on pirate stations. Quentin is hoping that adding Gavin to the line-up will drive listeners to donate, and others to challenge the law.

Carl is also introduced to Midnight Mark, the late-night DJ who rarely speaks on air, but somehow is deemed “the sexiest man in radio” because of his music choices, and an old hippie named Bob, who nobody on board really seems to know, yet everyone knows he is on board, doing… whatever it is he does.

Dormandy and Twatt manage to force another bill through to law called the "Maritime Safety Act," which outlaws all non-registered craft from British waters, which, in turn, basically, outlaws all pirate radio stations. They are due to be shut down at midnight on New Years’ Eve. While Dormandy, Twatt, and their families all listen to Pirate Radio and ready their celebration, Pirate Radio goes silent at the stroke of twelve, only to kick off, even louder, at 12:01 AM, defying the law, officially going rogue.

Pirate Radio lifts anchor and becomes a roving beacon of music for the UK. Twatt sets the British Navy to tracking them down. The old boat, though, is not used to all the stress of being driven about, and begins to sink. As Pirate Radio continues to broadcast, they send out a distress call to anyone listening that they need rescuing. Dormandy and Twatt congratulate themselves on defeating Pirate Radio, only to discover that hundreds of listeners have taken their own boats out to rescue their heroes, saving the music and the spirit of rebellion, forever.

I don’t know how many of you out there know, but, for almost three years, I did my own “pirate radio” broadcast with an internet station called Revolution Radio. It was some of the best times I have ever had in my life, playing the late-night shift, sometimes from 11 pm to sunrise the next day, given my insomnia status for the evening. We had one rule – play what you like, and what the people listening request, if you can. And, Lord, didn’t we do just that…

Part of my affection for this movie is based on those late nights, playing music from midnight to dawn, chatting with other non-sleepers, discussing the great music from every genre and time period. The other thing that makes me love this movie is the characters’ devotion to the music of the time. It’s not just music for them, it’s a mindset, a way of life, and the citizens of the UK knew that, and became their most ardent fans.

If the plot itself seems a bit far-fetched, it isn’t at all. The UK did, in fact, keep rock music off the airwaves of the BBC, deeming it “unhealthy to young minds and bodies.” The ship in the movie is based in part off one of the rogue stations that sat out at sea, beaming the music to the listeners. The boat in question, the “Radio Caroline,” spent years moving from point to point in the Baltic Sea, dodging British Navy vessels, getting supplies from local ports, and heading out into international waters where they could broadcast freely. As a matter of fact, much of the radio equipment seen in the movie was donated by the Radio Caroline and “Admiral” Robbie Dale, a long-time pirate radio DJ.

The performances in Pirate Radio are nothing short of great. Hoffman plays The Count much like he played every role he did, fully ensconced in his character, selling every line like he fully believes it. Nighy is so cool to watch as the hipster Quentin, not really sure what he is doing, but loving every minute of being the “rogue leader” of a band of merry men. It does seem a bit odd to watch Nick Frost without Simon Pegg beside him, but he is a scream, playing like the ultimate ladies’ man with his Buddy Holly glasses and just-a-bit-too-tight shirts. Rhys Ifans, I have come to believe, could make any movie he is in just a bit better by being in it. He is so interesting to watch, his movements, his line delivery, it all seems so natural to him.

The two, though, that steal the show here are Davenport and Branagh. Davenport almost seems like he is playing a 20^th century version of his role in the original Pirates of the Caribbean. His soooo-very upright public servant Twatt (heh… that name…) it’s like seeing his Commander Norrington role in Pirates in a new century. Branagh, though, just looks like he is having the time of his life, mocking every stodgy, ultra-conservative British politician he has ever seen or heard, all rolled into one political cartoon of a character.

And, of course, there is no need to discuss the INCREDIBLE soundtrack to this movie. You get a taste of every great bit of mid-60’s music, both British and American, and, more than once, you get to hear why these songs are great, in the character’s visions. Don’t sit there for a moment and tell me you’ve never sat around with friends, beers in hand, discussing why Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon is better than The Wall, or why Hendrix was the more consummate guitarist than Clapton, or who put more emotion into their singing, Barry White or Luther Vandross (… Barry White did… just saying…). It’s in these moments where the movie strikes home with the audience, these silly debates where nobody is going to change their opinion on music greatness, regardless of the “proof” being given.

Music reaches everyone differently, but it does reach everyone right in the soul. It’s movies like Pirate Radio that make you remember that fact. How far would you go to bring music to people starving for it? I did, for a while, and I will let you in on a little secret… it’s high time I started doing it again…  hint, hint…

My reasons for wanting to start my internet radio show again are based on a line Hoffman delivers near the end of the movie, when they are supposed to be shutting down the station because of the ridiculous law outlawing pirate radio stations. I will leave you with his line…

“To all our listeners, this is what I have to say – God bless you all. And as for you bastards in charge, don’t dream it’s over. Years will come, years will go, and politicians will do fuck all to make the world a better place. But all over the world, young men and young women will always dream dreams, and put those dreams into song. Nothing important dies tonight, just a few ugly guys on a crappy ship. The only sadness tonight is that, in future years, there’ll be so many fantastic songs that it will not be our privilege to play. But, believe you me, they will still be written, they will still be sung, and they will be the wonder of the world.”

Pirates rule…

P.S. If you go looking for this movie, it may be under it's British title, The Boat That Rocked... two titles, one great movie!!