Movie Review: The Boat That Rocked - Page 2

The rest of the cast compliments each other directly. There is no up-staging, for each of them works as a well-built team. Philip Seymour Hoffman, being the only American on set, showcases once again how strong of an actor he can be whether he is on his own or with an ensemble. Similar to his character in Almost Famous, his character The Count has an undying love for music in all its glory. However, Hoffman shows that “less is more” when it comes to professional acting. This is showcased brilliantly when his character is jealous of a returning DJ on the boat, Gavin, played by a seducing Rhys Ifans.

The film’s length is quite long, running close to 200 minutes. Nonetheless, the film is so rich in 60’s culture and the soundtrack is absolutely breathtaking that for anyone interested in this segment of time will not be bothered. The music is by far the strongest component which makes sense since music is what the film is all about. The blasting of The Hollies “All Day and All of the Night” at the beginning reflects the idea that music is continuous, just like the characters’ love for it in the film. Curtis’s talent for making an audience feel touched, laugh, and feel nostalgic all at once is the backbone to this wonderful film. The characters are likable because they feel real, and perhaps it is because they want the same things that we long for in today’s society: revival of music, companionship without competition, as well as the ability to sit back, relax, and listen to the tunes that dance in the air around us instead of pondering over the detrimental things in life.

This film is for anyone who wishes they were from this era of music. Lacking in the film are current troubles of deficits, health care, and war, but are rather replaced with music, promiscuity, and a youthful entourage that find solace in simplicity. It’s a better world, albeit fictional. The film is an adventure to the past; a great form of escape. However, the most troublesome aspect of this film is that it was opened in the UK and the rest of Europe way back in April, and has been pushed back to November 2009 on this side of the Atlantic.

Article Author: Rosa Tran

Rosa Tran lives in Orleans, Ontario. She is in her sophomore year of college at Carleton University, and is majoring in an English Honors program. She works at Oberon Press as the office manager, one of Canada's leading independent publication houses of short stories. …

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