This Revolution (2005)

Most undeservingly overhyped movie of all time??

A brilliant film that helped define a genre

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

I just finished watching 'This Revolution' and I must say that it was far, far better than some of the average review scores from mainstream media organizations that it has been receiving...but that's exactly the point! The stupid, corrupt, idiotic mass-media corporate scumbags that pollute the world with their false bile obviously could never begin to fathom the beauty and courage of this small independent film about a group of anti-war, anti-neo-con protesters who are working to just find a bit of peace in this increasingly selfish, money-obsessed world.This is a brilliant film for anyone who cringes when they switch on mainstream rubbish like CNN, NBC and FOX NEWS and recognise the gargantuan lies staring them straight in the face. This is for the people that absorb the words of people like Noam Chomsky, Bill Hicks, John Pilger, Michael Moore, Ralph Nader, Immortal Technique, Hugo Chavez, Tariq Ali, Frank Zappa and George Orwell and despair at the so-called 'democracy' or 'political system' that we as a people have found ourselves in. The film also features a cameo by 'Immortal Technique' who is probably the most brilliant, witty, tightest, revolutionary rapper working in the US at the moment...(we all await the middle passage!)This film represents truth and light in a time of pitch-black political darkness. The protesters portrayed are just like the real people who marched all over the world, sick of the lies, sick of the imperialism, sick of the dead children as collateral damage, sick of arrogant, blood-thirsty politicians dreaming of oil, sick of the way the media always shows one side of the ever-complicated story. It's a film about some of these things...and much more..I wish I see more heavily-political films like this being made...that are not afraid to be polemic and personal with regards to the immoral and racist actions of the goverments of Bush, Blair and Howard... We NEED more voices like this in the world. Congratulations to all the cast & crew It's a work of passion, but its paid off... You guys have made a truly honest film in a world and industry filled with lies...10/10 GET HOLD OF THIS MOVIE!!!

There's a scene in Butterfly, Jose Luis Cuerda's film about the lead-up to the Spanish Civil War, where the teacher removes a book from his bookshelf and briefly considers giving it to the protagonist, a seven year-old-boy. The book is by Russian anarchist Peter Kropotkin. It is quickly returned to its place on the shelf.Is the filmmaker suggesting we aren't ready for such ideas? The scene in Butterfly provides a metaphor for the way anarchism and politics in general have been treated by filmmakers. With few exceptions, either such topics aren't broached at all, or they are broached in such a way as to leave the viewer completely mystified. "Social Realism", according to the online artcyclopoedia, "is a rather pejorative label in the United States, where overtly political art in general, and socialist politics in particular, are extremely out of favor".Which is perhaps why I enjoyed "This Revolution" so much. There's nothing shameful about expressing overt political sentiments in art, and there's nothing shameful about going overboard either. Witness John Heartfield, or Josep Renau, or Jean Vigo, or Pier Paolo Pasolini. Better sorry than safe, and better to risk being labeled pedantic than pussyfoot around the issues in the hopes of appeasing the critics.The film is honest. Marshall may not be in the same league as Pasolini, but as another reviewer pointed out, he's not ending his career but beginning it. There's nothing in This Revolution that can't be forgiven in light of the budget constraints and timetable. If nothing else, it's a lot of fun. Watch for Immortal Technique's piece and the 9/11 rant; watch for the RNC footage, which is electrifying (you won't always be sure what is staged and what isn't); and watch for the reference to Malatesta, who I'm pretty sure has never been mentioned in the medium before.Get off your high horse and I think you'll find Marshall's film refreshing and timely. We need more of this stuff.

I also saw this film at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival and I nearly walked out, but couldn't not watch, it was so bad. The story was so unbelievable, I felt no real sympathy for the protagonist who is arrogant and cheats on his girlfriend, the storyline that eventually unfolds between Jake and Tina is completely predictable, the footage looks horrible. I should have walked out when the director himself announced before the screening that it was conceived, written, cast, shot, and edited in less than 100 days. Believe me, it shows.I have no problem with directors putting themselves in their own films - many greats have done it. But it is quite another thing when you're making a film that is arguably propaganda (and yes, my politics are very much to the left) and less satire and you cast yourself as the leader of an underground political action group. Not only that, but you look several times directly into the camera and deliver a barrage of your own personal politics. That's just bad film-making.Don't waste your time on this film. If you want propaganda, watch Michael Moore. At least his work is documentary and you know what you're getting, and it's not veiled ever so thinly in narrative. If you want satire, watch Dr. Strangelove or Wag The Dog. Maybe Mr. Marshall should, too.

I had the opportunity to see "This Revolution" at the 2005 Sundance Festival. This film is the work of director Stephen Marshall, known for his innovative short films, music videos (including the Eminem video "Mosh"), and documentaries. "This Revolution" represents Stephen's first foray into a full length dramatic production.I had a great experience seeing this film. I was very surprised while, buying popcorn, I looked up to see Roger Ebert standing next to me. Also attending the festival, Roger took in "This Revolution" along with other features.The film begins rather awkwardly, perhaps reflective of the very tight filming which took place (Stephen Marshall rushed production to hit the deadline for entry into Sundance). However, as the narrative unfolds, the film begins to come together quite nicely."This Revolution" explores the interactions of a network broadcaster, Jake Cassavetes, as he collects interviews and footage of the 2004 RNC convention in NYC. Jake's relationships with two women, one a producer at his network, the other Tina Santiago (well played by Rosario Dawson), the widow of a slain Iraqi occupation soldier.As the narrative unwinds, we learn that Jake's network is relaying the footage he collects to the Department of Homeland Security, which is building profiles on each of the "enemy combatants" involved in the protests.Stephen Marshall succeeds in crafting a highly compelling film with "This Revolution." He combines the best of his work as a documentary and short film director, including his signature "scratch" technique. The scenes between the leads, Dawson and Nathan Crooker, are effective, and relay excellent chemistry.While the production contains several flaws, these can be excused as the work of a first time director. The overall end production is very powerful, and memorable. It is worth seeing if only for the footage of the RNC protest, suppressed in our mainstream media. Watch for the cameos by Marshall, including the scene where he is arrested.Enjoy!