As someone who loves to loudly proclaim ‘the movies are back!’ every time he goes to the cinema and there’s more than three other people there*, I’m always excited to hear what someone who actually should be speaking to these things has to say about it.
And Perth film critic Simon Miraudo has so much to say about the topic he’s based his second book on it! Get all the details below along with an update on the Brisbane Hotel; Nannup Flower and Garden Festival’s 2026 programme drop; and as always on a Wednesday, what’s going on around town over the rest of the week.
*Saw Backrooms last week with a full-house and it was good spooky fun.
Troy Mutton, Editor-In-Chief, Perth is OK!
LIFESTYLE
Perth film critic Simon Miraudo talks charred celluloid, digital decay and the certain death of cinema
“It took us 300,000 years to make it to the movies. Will it take us just a couple hundred years to lose them?”
It may feel like to watch anything these days, there’s an increasing number of streaming services we’re obligated to sign up to, and a seemingly endless cascade of media laid out in front of us.
But is it really endless? What about the films that never made it to streaming – or never made it to a cinema at all?
In Last Rites for Lost Films: Charred Celluloid, Digital Decay and the Certain Death of Cinema, Perth film critic Simon Miraudo – with the help of Oscar nominees, film preservationists, cinema owners and some figures “literally erased from cinema history” – charts not only the miraculous rise of cinema, but its alarming march towards its untimely end.
Last Rites… follows on from Simon’s debut, Book of the Banned: Devilish Movies, Dastardly Censors and the Scenes That Made Australia Sweat – a furiously fun unmasking of Australia’s classification system, uncovering some of the shocking ways in which the films we’ve watched have been censored, banned or buried alive.
THE LATEST FROM PERTH IS OK!
EAT & DRINK
$3 million Brisbane Hotel upgrades approved
“An iconic landmark nestled at the gateway between Perth and Mount Lawley. A shining beacon for those thirsty visitors on foot, in car, or on their way to the local rugby game.”
SPONSORED
No matter where WA takes you, Do It All at Discovery Parks
With locations spread from the outskirts of Perth to the top of the Kimberley, Discovery Parks have built a network of holiday parks that covers just about every version of a WA escape.
EXPLORE
Nannup Flower and Garden Festival returns for 29th year this August
Get out your diary, grab a spade and dust off the gardening gloves, one of the South West’s most loved winter traditions is back this August.
EXPLORE
Whistlepipe Gully: Your next weekend wander
Lush forest, a babbling brook that turns into a series of rapids, dog friendly and close to Perth… Whistlepipe Gully ticks a lot of boxes for an enjoyable day out, here’s what you need to know:
TODAY/TONIGHT
Curry Nights at Long Chim
Long Chim’s Wednedsay curry nights are back, serving up rich flavours, fragrant spices and comforting curries made to share. Ranging from $23-$25, watch out for the Jungle Curry, it kicks harder than a mule. Walk-ins welcome from 5pm or book ahead below:
WHAT’S ON
Hidden Treasures, Scarborough winter markets and more: What’s on around Perth this week
While the weather keeps trying to have a say in peoples’ fun on the weekend lately, this weekend way say nay! Cosy season is in full swing, so rug up, bro down and cash out some of the best things to do around town this week:
CCAPTUREDD
‘Gram of the Week
Why is coffee in Perth getting so expensive? From rising coffee bean prices and electricity bills to increasing wages and transport costs, cafes across Perth are facing mounting pressure behind the scenes.
Come with us on a little deep dive into why…