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The Boat That Rocked (2009)

Director: Richard Curtis

Time Out rating

Average user rating

326 reviews

Synopsis

Richard Curtis tells the tale of 1960s pirate station Radio Caroline. Bill Nighy stars. Hugh Grant doesn't.

Movie review

From Time Out London

‘The Ship That Sank’ would be a more appropriate title for writer-director Richard Curtis’s latest and most disappointing entertainment. It’s a cripplingly self-conscious and self-satisfied tribute to the roistering last days of offshore British mid-’60s pirate radio before the meanies from the ministry pulled the plugs.

It’s also the kind of musical comedy where the actors seem to be having more fun than any audience could ever share. This overlong, poorly paced and slackly directed ship-bound farrago not only wastes its treasury of golden oldies – Hendrix, Kinks, Small Faces etc – but magically contrives to reduce the chaotic, creative spirit of the sexual and cultural revolution to a mere mechanical catalogue of trite and surprisingly sentimental sex-drugs-and-rock ’n’ roll clichés, each fatally underlined by multiple and repetitive reaction shots.

If there are compensations, they come courtesy of a few diverting performances. The movie’s depressingly few incidences of genuine feeling come from Tom Sturridge who is sweet and appealing as the public schoolboy taken under the wing of his godfather, ship’s captain and Radio Rock boss Quentin, played by Bill Nighy as a self-parody in made-to-measure Regency-collared suits. Philip Seymour Hoffman does a turn as the radical, Emperor Rosko-like DJ in rivalry with Rhys Ifans’s self-serving immoralist Gavin.

Elsewhere, pickings are slim: the talented Ralph Brown is wasted – he’s cast as Wee Small Hours Bob, a misjudged amalgam, presumably, of ‘Whispering’ Bob Harris and dysarthric Danny from ‘Withnail & I’ – and the same is doubly true of such comic talents as Chris O’Dowd, Rhys Darby and Nick Frost.

Author: Wally Hammond 2009-03-31 11:30:36

Time Out London Issue 2015, Apr 2-8 2009

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User reviews of this film

Lynette said...

Posted on Apr 23 2009 17:17 I thought this film was dreadful and ended up walking out of it after an hour. I usually love Richard Curtis movies but there was no real plot going on. The best part was the music which was sensational.
It was school boy at best and absolute rubbish at worst.

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greg said...

Posted on Apr 22 2009 23:36 This film is NOT: amazing, fun, hugely entertaining, a laugh
This film IS: crap, crap, crap
I'd advise you not to see it for yourself. Believe all the reviews and save your money. That's what most people have done, hence the atrocious box office takings for this Curtis crapfest. TBTR has fallen into sixth place this week, taking less that £0.5m. A shocking financial disaster, a shocking cinematic disaster.

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Glenn said...

Posted on Apr 22 2009 21:36 I can't believe that any positive reviews are actually genuine - this film sucked. It more than sucked. I would rather stick pins in my eyes than go and see it for a second time. Whether or not it's an accurate reflection of the 1960s is irrelevant - this turd cannot be polished. I hope Richard Curtis invested his own money in this titanic flop and that he's forced to see out his days working in Blockbuster watching as customers don't rent this film.

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Chris Webber said...

Posted on Apr 22 2009 20:50 This is an amazing film, you just need to see it for what it is... this is NOT a serious look at the issue of pirate radio in the 60s, nor is it an accurate relfection of life as it (apparently) was back then. What it IS, however, is a hugely entertaining, light-hearted film that doesn't take itself too seriously. The music is fantastic, of course, and the cast perfect. It's a film, guys, and it's purpose is to entertain, which is does! It's a comedy, it's a laugh, it's not a documentary on pirate radio. Watch it, have a laugh, embrace the spirit of the film - it's the 60s after all!

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lyndsay miller said...

Posted on Apr 21 2009 07:14 Having read the reviews I decided against seeing the film but then a friend applauded it so I decided to see for myself. If you were born between the 50's and 60's and had a 'social life' this film has music that went to your heart in your teens - it was fun and worth seeing !

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Nicole said...

Posted on Apr 21 2009 02:31 Just as well I did not listen to the critics...I enjoyed the film from beginning to end, and it brought back all those years, as if it was yesterday! This is the way I remember it , Folks,
A must for those who were there (and those who wonder about the sixties!)
All in all very good entertainment

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lou said...

Posted on Apr 20 2009 22:21 After around five minutes watching this dross I wanted the entire cast to drown. Where was that ice-berg when I wanted it? I naturally had to drown my sorrows afterwards which directly led to me being sick in the toilet at work three times this morning. A bitter after taste indeed.

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Tim said...

Posted on Apr 20 2009 21:55 Appalling. Illiterate and lunatic, I fear Claire.

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claire said...

Posted on Apr 20 2009 15:30 why is it that everyone who enjoyed this film is illiterate?

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sheri said...

Posted on Apr 20 2009 14:26 Back here on planet earth, I thought this film was the worst I have ever seen. Plotless, crass script, overtly misogynistic (and no, women weren't all dizzy slappers in the 60's). The fact that this film has sunk like a stone in the box office chart is a testament to this country's good taste in films. We can spot a slickly marketed, cynical piece of crap like this from a mile off.

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mina said...

Posted on Apr 20 2009 13:56 A bit trite, with the characters improvising dance routines. Lots of cliches.... The politician is portraited as an evil cartoon character while they could have gone more in depth. A bit silly and pointless, for people who like cliches. A missed opportunity.

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joy fix said...

Posted on Apr 20 2009 11:55 As to the banal & sad comment's i've just had the misfortune to spend my precious time reading! thank's
for nothing "Guy's!"
I've seen the film too & thought it an absolute riot! Hilerious, Funny, Amazingly accurate as to the feeling of the time, each charector was sooooooo defined as far as their role with-in the group was concerned, & especially, important from my point of view, ( unlike your view's)
YES they WERE having A BALL making the film! ...instead of being viewed as a cardinal sin by those of you who are soooooooooo obviously challenged in the area of a "Sense of Humour!"
is'nt that the whole point of the " Entertainment Industry!!!?
Also I found it fascinating to relate many of the charector's to people I've come across in my life,& many that I actually have the honour & privlidge! of having as close friend's!
So ok, my view may not concure with the time's we are in, ie (let's all be Negative Nellie's & slate everyone & anyone who Dares to show talent & make light of life & relationship's ) until they stop trying,.... "How awful to think that anyone has the right to make life FUN & enjoyable!" YAWN...... GROAN........!!!!
Are you lot SAD or What?
I know how I'd rather be, Myself, Fun loving & all for Film's like this one, may Richard Curtis et al make more of this " Much needed Entertainment"
By the way, just in case you are interested you guy's! I'M off to see the film ..AGAIN.. You know what I think, KNOW? ...........
" LAUGHTER,"........ It's sooooooooo good for the Soul.. ....................
Maybe you should all try it sometime,........... " Go on, Give yourselves a Big Break!!!"
Try starting with a tiny smile, then a Big Smile, then a Giggle, now a Chuckle, now a gaffaw, & Best of all, here it comes,!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
..." THE BELLY LAUGH!!! ... WOw, you've never felt soooo good!!!
Bring it On!!! Byeeeee.x

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Graham Coleman said...

Posted on Apr 20 2009 10:23 If had watched this at home on television I would have switched it off and saved myself 2 hours and £18.

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Greg F said...

Posted on Apr 19 2009 19:32 Just got back from seeing this with my wife, both hated it. They're now advertising 2 tickets for the price of 1 through the Orange deal. Sadly I feel a 1 for the price of 2 offer would be more welcome here. Then one of us could have stayed in this afternoon, cleared the dogshit off the lawn and mown it.

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JimBob said...

Posted on Apr 19 2009 19:16 This is an unremittingly awful film. If Universal release this in the US cinema as planned I will eat my hat, and my shorts, and my shoes. No way they'll pour millions more down the drain backing this totally turdlicious turkey of a film.

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