Kym Staton’s documentary recruits a starry cast of fierce defenders of the imprisoned leaker but makes no room for the case against
Remember Julian Assange? Having dominated headlines in the 2010s, the WikiLeaks founder has dropped out of sight having been confined at London’s Belmarsh prison since 2019. And that was kind of the plan, this impassioned documentary asserts, with the aid of staunch defenders including the late John Pilger, Tariq Ali, Jill Stein, Pentagon Papers leaker Daniel Ellsworth and Assange family members. “The persecution of Julian has been a long, slow form of killing somebody,” says Pilger; witnessing Assange’s trajectory from a buccaneering truth-teller to a frail, mentally damaged prisoner, perpetually denied justice, it’s hard to disagree.
According to this documentary by Australian film-maker Kym Staton, Assange has been subject to a coordinated smear campaign. It argues that the 2010 rape allegations against Assange by two Swedish...
Remember Julian Assange? Having dominated headlines in the 2010s, the WikiLeaks founder has dropped out of sight having been confined at London’s Belmarsh prison since 2019. And that was kind of the plan, this impassioned documentary asserts, with the aid of staunch defenders including the late John Pilger, Tariq Ali, Jill Stein, Pentagon Papers leaker Daniel Ellsworth and Assange family members. “The persecution of Julian has been a long, slow form of killing somebody,” says Pilger; witnessing Assange’s trajectory from a buccaneering truth-teller to a frail, mentally damaged prisoner, perpetually denied justice, it’s hard to disagree.
According to this documentary by Australian film-maker Kym Staton, Assange has been subject to a coordinated smear campaign. It argues that the 2010 rape allegations against Assange by two Swedish...
- 3/14/2024
- by Steve Rose
- The Guardian - Film News
One could argue John Lennon‘s “Power to the People” hasn’t aged a day, especially compared to other political songs. Despite the song’s greatness, John had a significant issue with its lyrics in retrospect. He named the political figure who inspired him to write the tune. In addition, John explained why he felt the politics of the 1960s hadn’t made the world more utopian.
John Lennon felt ‘Power to the People’ didn’t portray power correctly
John’s solo oeuvre was a lot more political than The Beatles’. Sure, the Fab Four dabbled in cultural commentary with songs like “Piggies” and “Revolution,” but social issues were a much more prominent theme in John’s work. To this day, “Give Peace a Chance,” “Imagine,” “God,” and “Working Class Hero” are all stirring statements about a world that has changed far too little.
One of his most upbeat political...
John Lennon felt ‘Power to the People’ didn’t portray power correctly
John’s solo oeuvre was a lot more political than The Beatles’. Sure, the Fab Four dabbled in cultural commentary with songs like “Piggies” and “Revolution,” but social issues were a much more prominent theme in John’s work. To this day, “Give Peace a Chance,” “Imagine,” “God,” and “Working Class Hero” are all stirring statements about a world that has changed far too little.
One of his most upbeat political...
- 2/8/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Tl;Dr:
Members of the International Marxist Group heard John Lennon’s “Imagine” before its release. One of them revealed what he thought of the song. Yoko Ono felt the album Imagine had more appeal than some of his previous work.
John Lennon‘s “Imagine” has plenty of social themes. John played “Imagine” for a pair of communist activists before the rest of the world got to hear it. Subsequently, one of the communists discussed someone who significantly influenced John’s views.
An activist joked John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’ would please a communist committee
John was interviewed by communist activists Tariq Ali and Robin Blackburn for the magazine Red Mole. That magazine was controlled by the now-defunct International Marxist Group and supported causes like feminism and Irish republicanism. In a 2010 article for The Guardian, Ali discussed his friendship with John. “We stayed in touch and talked to each other a great deal,...
Members of the International Marxist Group heard John Lennon’s “Imagine” before its release. One of them revealed what he thought of the song. Yoko Ono felt the album Imagine had more appeal than some of his previous work.
John Lennon‘s “Imagine” has plenty of social themes. John played “Imagine” for a pair of communist activists before the rest of the world got to hear it. Subsequently, one of the communists discussed someone who significantly influenced John’s views.
An activist joked John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’ would please a communist committee
John was interviewed by communist activists Tariq Ali and Robin Blackburn for the magazine Red Mole. That magazine was controlled by the now-defunct International Marxist Group and supported causes like feminism and Irish republicanism. In a 2010 article for The Guardian, Ali discussed his friendship with John. “We stayed in touch and talked to each other a great deal,...
- 8/10/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Tl;Dr:
John Lennon moved to New York City partly because of the way he was treated in the British press. He ignored a friend’s advice not to move to the United States. John revealed what he thought about the country.
John Lennon lived in New York City for years. Notably, a communist activist tried to prevent him from moving there. Subsequently, the activist imagined what would have happened if John had stayed in England.
John Lennon moved to New York City partially because Yoko Ono hated Britain
John became friends with Tariq Ali, a communist author and activist from England. During a 2020 interview with Jacobin, Ali discussed John’s move to the U.S. “I told him, ‘Don’t move to the States,'” Ali recalled. “He said, ‘Why? Yoko hates it here, the British press is racist, the attacks on her had been disgusting.’ I said, ‘We are used to them.
John Lennon moved to New York City partly because of the way he was treated in the British press. He ignored a friend’s advice not to move to the United States. John revealed what he thought about the country.
John Lennon lived in New York City for years. Notably, a communist activist tried to prevent him from moving there. Subsequently, the activist imagined what would have happened if John had stayed in England.
John Lennon moved to New York City partially because Yoko Ono hated Britain
John became friends with Tariq Ali, a communist author and activist from England. During a 2020 interview with Jacobin, Ali discussed John’s move to the U.S. “I told him, ‘Don’t move to the States,'” Ali recalled. “He said, ‘Why? Yoko hates it here, the British press is racist, the attacks on her had been disgusting.’ I said, ‘We are used to them.
- 8/10/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Tl;Dr:
John Lennon’s “Imagine” garnered the approval of some communist writers. “Imagine” is one of John’s most famous political tunes. It overshadowed another socially-conscious track John released during his solo career.
John Lennon played “Imagine” for a group of communists before the public heard it. Subsequently, one of the communists told John he preferred one of his other political tunes. John agreed.
A communist told John Lennon ‘Imagine’ wasn’t as good as another 1 of his songs
Tariq Ali was a communist activist who became friends with John. During a 2020 interview with Jacobin, Ali remembered introducing John to fellow communist Régis Debray. “So when we said to Debray, ‘Do you want to meet John Lennon?” Ali recalled. “He said, ‘Who is he?’ We explained, and [writer] Robin [Blackburn] said, ‘You have been in prison, Régis, but I thought that it would have penetrated down there that there is a...
John Lennon’s “Imagine” garnered the approval of some communist writers. “Imagine” is one of John’s most famous political tunes. It overshadowed another socially-conscious track John released during his solo career.
John Lennon played “Imagine” for a group of communists before the public heard it. Subsequently, one of the communists told John he preferred one of his other political tunes. John agreed.
A communist told John Lennon ‘Imagine’ wasn’t as good as another 1 of his songs
Tariq Ali was a communist activist who became friends with John. During a 2020 interview with Jacobin, Ali remembered introducing John to fellow communist Régis Debray. “So when we said to Debray, ‘Do you want to meet John Lennon?” Ali recalled. “He said, ‘Who is he?’ We explained, and [writer] Robin [Blackburn] said, ‘You have been in prison, Régis, but I thought that it would have penetrated down there that there is a...
- 8/9/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Tl;Dr:
A left-wing magazine criticized songs from The Beatles’ The White Album for being weak. John Lennon then corresponded with one of his critics and made friends with a communist activist. John’s experience inspired him to write one of his most famous solo songs.
John Lennon learned that a political magazine criticized two songs from The Beatles’ The White Album. He responded by chatting with some activists who worked for the magazine. Subsequently, the experience inspired one of his most famous socially-conscious songs.
John Lennon responded to criticism of 2 songs from The Beatles’ ‘The White Album’
Tariq Ali is a communist activist from England. During a 2020 interview with Jacobin, Ali discussed the beginning of his friendship with John. “In The Black Dwarf, our left-wing magazine, we criticized The Beatles’ songs ‘Revolution 1’ and ‘Revolution 9,’ saying these were very weak songs,” he recalled.
“To our surprise, a letter to the editor from John Lennon arrived,...
A left-wing magazine criticized songs from The Beatles’ The White Album for being weak. John Lennon then corresponded with one of his critics and made friends with a communist activist. John’s experience inspired him to write one of his most famous solo songs.
John Lennon learned that a political magazine criticized two songs from The Beatles’ The White Album. He responded by chatting with some activists who worked for the magazine. Subsequently, the experience inspired one of his most famous socially-conscious songs.
John Lennon responded to criticism of 2 songs from The Beatles’ ‘The White Album’
Tariq Ali is a communist activist from England. During a 2020 interview with Jacobin, Ali discussed the beginning of his friendship with John. “In The Black Dwarf, our left-wing magazine, we criticized The Beatles’ songs ‘Revolution 1’ and ‘Revolution 9,’ saying these were very weak songs,” he recalled.
“To our surprise, a letter to the editor from John Lennon arrived,...
- 8/8/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Tl;Dr:
John Lennon’s “Power to the People” was designed to promote a political movement. It’s not that good. It was a hit anyway.
John Lennon‘s “Power to the People” was inspired by an interview the former Beatle did. He played the song for one of the interviewers. Subsequently, the tune performed differently in the United States and the United Kingdom.
John Lennon wrote ‘Power to the People’ after 2 communists interviewed him
The book Lennon on Lennon: Conversations With John Lennon reports communist writers Tariq Ali and Robin Blackburn interviewed John for the left-wing newspaper Red Mole in 1971. “All the revolutions have happened when a Fidel or Marx or Lenin or whatever, who were intellectuals, were able to get through to the workers,” he said. “They got a good pocket of people together and the workers seemed to understand that they were in a repressed state. They...
John Lennon’s “Power to the People” was designed to promote a political movement. It’s not that good. It was a hit anyway.
John Lennon‘s “Power to the People” was inspired by an interview the former Beatle did. He played the song for one of the interviewers. Subsequently, the tune performed differently in the United States and the United Kingdom.
John Lennon wrote ‘Power to the People’ after 2 communists interviewed him
The book Lennon on Lennon: Conversations With John Lennon reports communist writers Tariq Ali and Robin Blackburn interviewed John for the left-wing newspaper Red Mole in 1971. “All the revolutions have happened when a Fidel or Marx or Lenin or whatever, who were intellectuals, were able to get through to the workers,” he said. “They got a good pocket of people together and the workers seemed to understand that they were in a repressed state. They...
- 8/8/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Tl;Dr:
One of John Lennon’s classic rock songs only reached No. 11. John wrote the song to impress a revolutionary. Classic rock songs by Stevie Nicks and Queen garnered a similar commercial reception. Stevie Nicks | Paul Natkin / Contributor
Not all classic rock songs that people remember were big hits. Some of the classic rock songs that reached No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 are more famous than songs that were more successful. For example, a Stevie Nicks hit that reached No. 11 is now one of her most famous songs.
4. John Lennon’s ‘Power to the People’
During a 1980 interview in the book All We Are Saying:The Last Major Interview with John Lennon and Yoko Ono, John discussed the origin of “Power to the People.” “Well, that came from a talk with Tariq Ali, who was sort of a ‘revolutionary’ in England and edited a magazine called Red Mole,” he said.
One of John Lennon’s classic rock songs only reached No. 11. John wrote the song to impress a revolutionary. Classic rock songs by Stevie Nicks and Queen garnered a similar commercial reception. Stevie Nicks | Paul Natkin / Contributor
Not all classic rock songs that people remember were big hits. Some of the classic rock songs that reached No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 are more famous than songs that were more successful. For example, a Stevie Nicks hit that reached No. 11 is now one of her most famous songs.
4. John Lennon’s ‘Power to the People’
During a 1980 interview in the book All We Are Saying:The Last Major Interview with John Lennon and Yoko Ono, John discussed the origin of “Power to the People.” “Well, that came from a talk with Tariq Ali, who was sort of a ‘revolutionary’ in England and edited a magazine called Red Mole,” he said.
- 3/19/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Mission: Majnu (Netflix)
Directed by Shantanu Bagchi
Mission Majnu is mentioned only once, or maybe twice, in the entire film. That’s the codeword for Raw agent Amandeep (Siddharth Malhotra)’s mission across the border.
Now the kaum in Pakistan in Indian cinema means green everywhere and the characters in skull caps addressing one another as ‘janaab’, which is not how people in Pakistan speak. Where is the normal conversation?
But yes, to the film’s credit, civilians in Pakistan are not demonized for once, only the politicians are. And they, I am sorry to say, come across as fools and clowns. No fault of the good actors Rajit Kapur, Shishir Mishra et al. who try hard to confer some dignity to their characters.
But it is a losing battle. When it comes to the depiction of Pakistan in Hindi cinema it always is: a losing battle, I mean. In every sense.
Directed by Shantanu Bagchi
Mission Majnu is mentioned only once, or maybe twice, in the entire film. That’s the codeword for Raw agent Amandeep (Siddharth Malhotra)’s mission across the border.
Now the kaum in Pakistan in Indian cinema means green everywhere and the characters in skull caps addressing one another as ‘janaab’, which is not how people in Pakistan speak. Where is the normal conversation?
But yes, to the film’s credit, civilians in Pakistan are not demonized for once, only the politicians are. And they, I am sorry to say, come across as fools and clowns. No fault of the good actors Rajit Kapur, Shishir Mishra et al. who try hard to confer some dignity to their characters.
But it is a losing battle. When it comes to the depiction of Pakistan in Hindi cinema it always is: a losing battle, I mean. In every sense.
- 1/21/2023
- by Subhash K Jha
- Bollyspice
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