Pirate Radio (2009) - Review of the Blu-ray Edition

      Pirate Radio, 2009.

      Directed by Richard Curtis.

      Featuring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy, Rhys Ifans, Nick Frost, and Kenneth Branagh.

      SYNOPSIS:

      Pirate Radio is a light-hearted film that offers an enjoyable experience, but not much more. Bill Nighy, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Kenneth Branagh head a talented cast in a narrative revolving around a pirate radio station in the 1960s that broadcasts from a boat located in international waters. While such stations did exist, this particular film draws inspiration from various real-life pirate stations rather than focusing on a single story. This edition is the same as the one released in 2010, so it includes a nice assortment of bonus features as well.

      I've been contemplating movie storytelling as part of a project I'm working on, and during this exploration, I discovered a fascinating video by screenwriter Michael Arndt analyzing effective movie endings. He emphasizes that his analysis is not the definitive approach to concluding a film but acknowledges that it tends to please audiences.

      This brings me to my review of Pirate Radio, also known internationally as The Boat That Rocked. It's an entertaining film about the emergence of pirate radio stations operating from international waters in the late 1960s, capturing the attention of many British listeners frustrated with the BBC’s ban on rock music.

      The plot follows Carl (Tom Sturridge), a bright young man sent by his mother to stay on the boat Radio Rock, managed by his godfather, Quentin (Bill Nighy). The DJs he meets are a quirky group you'd expect in such a scenario: The Count (Philip Seymour Hoffman; his absence is noted), a bold American DJ; Gavin Kavanaugh (Rhys Ifans), a well-known DJ drawn out of retirement by Quentin, who finds himself at odds with The Count; “Midnight” Mark (Tom Wisdom), who may not say much during his broadcasts but has a significant female fanbase; “Doctor” Dave (Nick Frost), who sees himself as a ladies' man; and “Simple” Simon Swafford (Chris O’Dowd), the morning DJ.

      There are several other characters as well, including Emma Thompson in a few scenes as Carl’s mother Charlotte and January Jones as Elenore, who tricks Simon into marriage to be with her true love, Gavin. Kenneth Branagh plays Sir Alistair Dormandy, a serious government official intent on shutting down all pirate radio stations, particularly Radio Rock. Jack Davenport portrays the aptly named Domenic Twatt, who is charged by Dormandy with finding a legal loophole to facilitate his agenda.

      Most of the primary characters experience satisfying arcs, leading the film to a conclusion that reminded me of Arndt’s commentary regarding endings that leave the audience thinking, “So what?” While Pirate Radio’s climax is not poor, it lacks memorability.

      I had not previously acquired this film on home video, but I understand it is the same disc released by Universal in 2010. The bonus features begin with a commentary track from writer/director Richard Curtis, producer Hilary Bevan Jones, and actors Nick Frost and Chris O’Dowd, all of whom appear to have enjoyed the filmmaking process and the ensuing discussion. The track focuses more on anecdotes from filming than on the film's development, though that’s a minor issue.

      Following that are six featurettes totaling only 20 minutes, which cover the essential aspects of making the film. This is somewhat disappointing since the commentary doesn't delve deeply into this topic.

      Lastly, Curtis presents a substantial 68 minutes of deleted scenes, illustrating how different Pirate Radio could have turned out had some been included. The presence of such extensive footage (rather than just trims) isn't surprising for an ensemble film like this, as there are multiple stories to explore among the eclectic characters aboard the ship.

      There is no trailer included, but there is BD-Live functionality, although I must admit I didn't test it to see if it works in 2025.

      Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★

      Brad Cook