a warped view

Last night we saw the movie Fire in Babylon. The synopsis states it's a 2010 documentary film about the record-breaking West Indies cricket team of the 1970s and 1980. Now if you are anything like me you are probably already starting to tune out. Cricket?! Pfft! How could that possibly be an interesting movie? Well let me tell you right now that this movie is better than you could possibly imagine! Starting around the late 60's and early 70's and filled with stock footage and interviews with players, academics, and people of cultural significance in the West Indies it is an inspiring, uplifting, sometimes confrontational, sometimes hilarious look at how the rise to success of one group of men lifted an entire people up above the oppression, racism and helplessness they'd endured for over 300 years. The movie talks about the 1975 test series when Australia massacred the West Indies, embarrassing them internationally and cementing the label of Calypso Cricketers. It a...

So tonight was the much anticipated opening night of the 14th Rev Film Fest. I must admit I was initially a little concerned about the choice of movie (Fire in Babylon) but after seeing it my socks are blown off! For those who don't know, Rev is the fastest growing independent film festival in Australia with something like 12,000 people expected to attend over the next 10 days. Rev celebrates those films that we wouldn't otherwise get to see, the ones that makes us think about the world in a different way and that challenge and push the boundaries wherever possible. The films are hand picked by the irreverent Jack Sargeant, a man it is hard not to be impressed by. Each feature or documentary screens with a short film, giving us even more opportunity to enjoy the cinematic delights offered up to us by film makers around the world. There are some stand out must sees for me including Hobo with a Shotgun (starring Rutger Hauer, what more incentive do you need), Charlie Cassanov...