a warped view

It's always so hard to pick just a handful of films from the Revelation Perth International Film Festival (or Rev as it's affectionately known) lineup to recommend. When people ask me what they should see my answer is usually "ALL THE THINGS!". But I'm going to do my darnedest to pick out the best of the best. I'm going to split it into three different categories, my top 5 features, my top 5 documentaries and my overall top 5. Anything that makes it into the overall top 5 won't be included in the other two because that would be silly. Top 5 Features White Reindeer A Field in England Gimme the Loot Cheap Thrills A Monster in Paris (A kids movie and showing in 3D!) Check out the trailer for the not-your-average-Christmas-movie White Reindeer here Top 5 Documentaries Burn The Act of Killing  Fierce Green Fire Sunset Strip Hunter The trailer for The Act of Killing is here . It's chilling stuff. and now, DRUMROLL... Top 5...

Its nearly that time of the year again. Its Perth, its winter, its almost July and that can only mean one thing... Its nearly time for the Revelation Perth International Film Festival ! For those of you who don't know, this is one of my favourite things ever! As someone who adores film Rev gives me (and all of you Perthians) the chance to see amazing films we would most likely never get the opportunity to see anywhere else. Rev has moved to a new home this year, with the bulk of the action taking place at Luna in Leederville and additional screenings and events happening at Paradiso, Luna on SX and at other venues around Leederville and Fremantle. While it sad to leave the Astor, the new home base in Leederville opens the door for lots of new and exciting happenings (and a whole new collection of places to eat during the festival, YAY!) The last few years I have blogged about Rev and this year I will have heaps of reviews, recommendations, suggestions and maybe a few surpr...

I know Rev is already over but I didn't get a chance to post this from youtube on to the blog so I'm doing it now.

I totally forgot to post this to the blog yesterday! I've been a bit sleepy the last few nights!

The films we saw today. I was a bit tired and forgetful so I didn't do my recommendations for Monday. There's actually only 5 sessions on Monday and I recommend each and everyone one of them! There's Last Days of the Arctic, Paul Williams, the Color Wheel, the first Crispin Glover Session and Love. If you want to see any of the movies we saw today they are on again on the following days; the Way of the Morris is on Friday at 5pm, Bad Brains is on next Sunday at 8:45pm and Whisperer in the Darkness is on Thursday at 5pm.

Wow! Just wow! This is one of the most amazing pieces of cinema I have seen. Tyrannosaur is Paddy Considine directorial debut and I really hope the first of many outstanding films from this actor-turned-director. Dealing with subject matter that is uncomfortable and cringe inducing it takes a very human story and makes it something that is beautiful to behold. At times this film was so hard to watch and I can't count the number of times my hand flew to my mouth to stifle a gasp. Despite the brutality of the subject matter the two leads managed to portray two beautifully fragile human beings who the audience could really care about and the interactions between them while being so real managed to avoid the ridiculous stereotypes we often see in these types of films. This film made me cry, made my heart break and then filled it back up again with hope. It made me so pleased that there are people in the world brave enough to tell stories that don't have happy endings where ev...

As a fan of the movies adapted from the writing of Philip K Dick I was very excited to see this adaptation of the story of the same name. Dealing with dream visions, messages from beyond, communists, social control, oppression of civil rights, aliens and lasers it is Dick's most autobiographical novel. The story and film both feature a character named after Dick and several plot elements based on actual events from his life. The film contains several familiar faces, though none of them as well known as god herself, Alanis Morrisette (a personal favourite). The ensemble cast performed well, creating likable (or unlikeable if necessary)characters that were easy to become involved with. I was invested in the story and the fates of each player, hoping for the best. There were times the story moved slowly, where perhaps the director could have been a bit more ruthless with the editing (the lack of ruthlessness may be because the director was also the writer of the screenplay). The pac...

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...

Up until today I've been doing a fantastic job of shutting the world out, I haven't really been seeing people, or even talking to them on the phone. I've hardly been on twitter and I only use Facebook to play those ridiculous games we all hate. There's been no reason for me to hide, nothing happened. Nothing other than the familiar self doubt I've known all my life. The self doubt that tells me that people don't like me, they just talk to me because it's polite. The self doubt that assures me I don't actually have any friends, just people who put up with me. The self doubt that tells me I'm not pretty enough, skinny enough, smart enough, good enough. The self doubt that tells me I will never ever belong, I will never be part of something, never be someone people choose to spend time with. Tonight however I won't be able to hide. Tonight is the opening party for the Revelations Film Festival. Tonight I will be in a room full of movers and shaker...