Author: Jim P

Sydney-based writer, presenter, DJ and activist. Film, music, parenting and socialism
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With a new covers LP and a delightful debut novel out at the same time, Susanna Hoffs is thriving

If you follow Susanna Hoffs for any length of time, the overriding impression is one of restlessness. The singer, guitarist and co-founding Bangle is someone who can never be still or do just one thing for very long. She’s constantly in motion in her wonderfully charming TikTok and Instagram videos. She shows off her dance … Continue reading With a new covers LP and a delightful debut novel out at the same time, Susanna Hoffs is thriving

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Buy me a coffee

After putting it off for way too long, I’ve finally set up a way for readers to more easily make donations to support my work in creating this blog. The service is called Buy Me a Coffee, and here’s the link if you want to donate. It’s super easy to do and you don’t need … Continue reading Buy me a coffee

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Let’s talk about Tina Turner’s pivotal contributions to the Mad Max saga

There were two things I noticed about the reactions to Tina Turner’s death last month. First, there was a general agreement that even though she was 83, it still felt tragically early, way too soon for her to go. She was one of those artists who seem so filled with life and energy and passion, … Continue reading Let’s talk about Tina Turner’s pivotal contributions to the Mad Max saga

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Sydney Film Festival preview: A deliriously good Amitabh Bachchan retro, plus other highlights

This year I was once again tapped by Sydney Film Festival to write program notes for the upcoming 70th edition. Once again, along with the assortment of new films assigned to me, I was handed the enjoyable task of writing up a program of classic films from India. Last year it was the Satyajit Ray … Continue reading Sydney Film Festival preview: A deliriously good Amitabh Bachchan retro, plus other highlights

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Boards of Canada’s Music Has the Right to Children: Cinematic psychedelia, dope beats and audio therapy

This is a revised and expanded version of an article I wrote for Tone Deaf in 2018 (and which was later republished by Classic Album Sundays) Boards of Canada’s Music Has the Right to Children is without question the album I’ve listened to the most in the past 21 years. I can’t think of what … Continue reading Boards of Canada’s Music Has the Right to Children: Cinematic psychedelia, dope beats and audio therapy

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Andor is a refreshing change for Star Wars, and a thrilling and inspiring depiction of revolution

ANOTHER UPDATE: My essay about season 2 is now up and you can read it here! UPDATE: A year and a half after I published this piece, I followed it up with another essay about rewatching Andor as a meditation on Palestine. If you enjoy this one you may like that one too! Note: It’s … Continue reading Andor is a refreshing change for Star Wars, and a thrilling and inspiring depiction of revolution

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Peter Jackson’s Return of the King is a supreme classic, but here are some things that bug me about it

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the release of Peter Jackson’s The Return of the King, which completed his triumphant adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy. I recently watched the entire film trilogy for the first time in probably 15 years. As much as I know these films backwards and … Continue reading Peter Jackson’s Return of the King is a supreme classic, but here are some things that bug me about it