In the 1960s, the radio licensing in the UK was extremely restrictive -- but if you were broadcasting from the North Sea, outside any legal jurisdiction, and your signal happened to reach UK listeners, then you could theoretically get away with anything. For those who remember the 'The Goodies' episode in which they kick off Radio Goodies with nothing more than their own enthusiasm, a boat and a record of 'A Walk In the Black Forest' - that's the kind of thing we're talking about.

This is the fictional story of one of those stations, with the battle between the station and the government matched by the battle of egos between the various DJs - The Count (Hoffman), the American god of the airwaves; Gavin (Ifans), the drug tourist who is attempting to retake the proper title of Greatest DJ in Britain; and Dave (Frost), his smart-arsed co-host.

This is Curtis's first attempt at a feature film that isn't a romantic comedy (after a run of stuff like Love Actually, Four Weddings, etc.), but it's still about love -- about love of good music, about love of your job and about the bond that truly passionate enthusiasts share.

Milk is the latest film from the always interesting Gus Van Sant. It is a biopic of Harvey Milk who was the first openly gay man elected to major political office in the United States. This film however is not a period piece looking at this one key event. It is a more complete exploration of the man himself, both his personal and public life.

Sean Penn is extremely good as Milk ((ndash)) charming and compassionate but also vulnerable. There are also good performances in support, most notably Josh Brolin, but this film wouldn't be what it is without Van Sant's expert touch.

There is a beautiful restraint in this movie. Van Sant never lays it on too heavy but at the same time he isn't too dry either. There is a grainy quality to the production, playing as if what we are seeing comes from that period. It is a film from a man who really knows what he is doing. You don't have to be a long-standing fan of Van Sant's experimentations or to have heard of Harvey Milk to enjoy this film, it is a rare cinematic gem.