The Boat That Rocked

The Boat That Rocked is a labour of love; a story of friendship and fraternity set against the backdrop of the swinging sixties, with one of the greatest soundtracks ever. The music of The Kinks, Small Faces, Rolling Stones and many others is unapologetically the star of the film, telling the story, conveying emotions and replacing dialogue effortlessly. Richard Curtis pays direct homage to the industry, from the delirious screaming of Beatlemania to music videos, including a scene pulled straight out of Hendrix’s famous naked Electric Ladyland cover. The plot is minimal, but it doesn’t matter. With the impressive ensemble of actors (a tightly-wound Kenneth Branagh, the always excellent Philip Seymour Hoffman and a continual stream of the best of British) blatantly having a blast, The Boat That Rocked is guaranteed to put a smile on your face. Plus, you'll know who to blame when tie-dye comes back in style. [Becky Bartlett]