It's only fitting that Pirate Radio have an Arrrrrrrrgh rating. Sorry maties, couldn't resist. But what's a movie about sex, drugs and rock 'n roll without the, you know, S. E. X.?
Yeah, there's plenty of that, but at its core Pirate Radio is one rollicking ride back to 1966 where the Rolling Stones, Kinks, Cream and Jimi Hendrix ruled the airwaves. Like most American Baby Boomers, I didn't know that while we were being swept up by the British invasion, back home in jolly ol' England, things weren't so jolly.
At least that's the story writer/director Richard Curtis (Love Actually, Notting Hill) gives us in this musical memoir. He does a masterful job of taking a stellar cast (Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy and Kenneth Branagh among others) and telling a great story about how British bureaucrats tried to outlaw rock music.
Back then, it seems the BBC was allowed to play only one hour of rock each day. To circumvent this restriction, the radio "pirates" took to the high seas and broadcast illegal rock and roll 24 hours a day from ships anchored off the British mainland.
As Monty Python might exclaim, BRILLIANT!
Well, the British Empire didn't get to be an empire by allowing freakin' pirates to have their way. Enter crusty Kenneth Branagh as a British bureaucrat with one sole mission: Stop. Pirate. Radio.
Yeah, I know. It sounds almost like one of those cornball surf movies from the same era (I'll stop those crazy kids from - pick one - surfing, singing devil music, conducting unlicensed nuclear experiments - if it's the last thing I do!). Branagh, like his celluloid predecessors, is a British bulldog with more bark than bite.
He tries plan after plan to stop those crazy kids and their rock and roll music, but they always seem one watery step ahead of him.
Along the way we're treated to plenty of high seas high jinks. Hoffman as the Count, keeps his merry band of music makers on the right frequency. Between saying the "F" word on the air for the first time, to broadcasting a cast mate's loss of virginity - you never know what's going to come out of the speakers.
Pirate Radio is a pastiche - and I mean that in a good way - it borrows from every great rock movie you've ever seen. It has some slapstick from A Hard Day's Night and Help! and pays tribute to modern day classics like Cameron Crowe's, Almost Famous.
Since you know how it turns out (listened to XM/Sirius lately?) it really won't make your brain hurt. So it doesn't matter if mean ol' bureaucrat Branagh is successful or not. You're treated to some great music and Arrrgh-rated fun along the way.
Pirate Radio won't have you longing for the bad ol' days of AM radio. But, I'm guessing it'll bring back more than a few memories (anyone else run home from school and tune into KFJZ to hear Mark E. Baby play Sunshine of Your Love?).
This movie reminds all of us Boomers there's a reason they call it Classic Rock. And we have the pirates and ourselves to thank for it.
The Boomer Brief recommends Netflix for your movie rentals. The monthly rental packages start at only $4.99 - and you can cancel at any time.
Prepare your own Mexican quick fix with this Chipotle-inspired bowl. Carbs are moderated by filling the bowl with beans, extra veggies and chicken. No need for rice, since the beans count as carbs.
Tips:
If you love tomatoes, increase the quantity to 1/2 cup, but note that the carbohydrates will also increase.
If preparing this recipe for one person, cut all of the ingredients in half. Or simply prepare the full recipe up to the end of step 2 and store leftover chicken and vegetable-bean mixture in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat in the microwave on High for 1 to 2 minutes, or until heated through, and continue with step 3.
Health Bite: The iron, calcium, magnesium, manganese, copper and zinc in black beans help to keep bones strong and healthy.
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