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Long live rock n'roll! That sums up the theme for the new British offbeat comedy Pirate Radio, an irreverent look back at a period in time when anyone who listened to rock was labeled as a degenerate.

Set in 1966, Pirate Radio takes us to a refitted commercial fishing vessel anchored in the North Sea off the coast of Great Britain. From its position, the ship's motley DJ crew broadcasts rock music by The Rolling Stones, The Who, The Beatles and Jimi Hendrix among others 24/7 to a British populace yearning for more than just Mozart.

The station's owner, Quentin (Bill Nighy - Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End) is an eccentric businessman who seems to love thumbing his nose at the stogy British government. As a result, his DJs would follow him to the ends of the Earth. The two most popular ones are an American known as The Count (Philip Seymour Hoffman) and Gavin (Rhys Ifans), a legendary British DJ who can make women swoon with his voice.

Amidst all the women, drugs, and rock n'roll is Quentin's shy, teenaged virgin godson Carl (Tom Sturridge), who becomes an adult while also finding his identity during his stay on the ship.

Meanwhile, forces within the British government want to shut down all pirate radio. They are led by Sir Alistair Dormandy (Kenneth Branagh), perhaps the most boring, narrow-minded character ever presented on film, and his eager assistant, Twatt (Jack Davenport - Pirates of the Caribbean). 

Don't think that Pirate Radio is actually based on one particular story or event. If anything it's a collage of several ships that broadcasted music into Great Britain during the 1960s. Like in the film, the British government did enact a law making offshore broadcasting illegal, but in real life it was in reaction to a high profile murder of a DJ and several acts of actual piracy.

Overall, there is nothing melodramatic or slow paced about Pirate Radio. It hits you in the face with rock n' roll from the beginning and never lets up with its British humor, terrific music and scenes that constantly bounce around between the station's devoted listeners and its colorful DJs.

Sturridge is perhaps a bit overly dry in his performance, but this is a minor quibble with a film that's truly meant as pure fun. Don't expect any great themes or social commentary. It's all about the music and characters who only want to have a good time in life. Hoffman and Ifans in particular are wonderful as the two DJs with egos who ultimately settle their differences with a game of chicken.

Long live Pirate Radio!

On a letter grade scale from A being excellent to F for failing, Pirate Radio receives a B.
    
Pirate Radio is rated R and has a running time of 106 minutes.

Now showing through November 20 @
Glenwood Arts
9575 Metcalf
Overland Park
Visit www.fineartsgroup.com or call 913-642-4404 for more information.

By Michael D. Smith

Indie Film Editor

Michael D. Smith earned a Bachelor of Arts in history at College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Missouri followed by a Master of Arts in history at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Inspired by such critics as Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, Michael started reviewing films in 1992 for College of the Ozarks's student-run newspaper. After returning to the Kansas City area in 1994, he continued film reviewing by writing for the Cass County Democrat Missourian in Harrisonville.

In 2000 Michael joined Sun Publications in Overland Park, Kansas where he served as its film critic and Arts and Entertainment Editor. During his tenure there, he was also the film critic for the "Fine Arts Radio Hour" and "Celebrity Scoop" radio shows on KXTR. After leaving the Sun in late 2002, he became the A&E writer for the Olathe News in Olathe, Kansas. He also worked as a freelance writer for The Squire in Leawood, Showcase Publishing in Lake Ozark, Missouri and the Kansas City Star.

Michael is currently a member of the Kansas City Film Critics Circle, a professional film critic organization established in 1966 by the late Dr. James Loutzenhiser.

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