To Critique, Inform, Challenge and Entertain
BOOK REVIEWS / Fiction / FILM REVIEWS
by Daniel Stepniak · Published 20 September 2019 · Last modified 4 October 2023
Reading Time: 3 minutesBoth the book and film ‘Disobedience’ explore leaving and revisiting one’s childhood religious community and emotional roots. The story they tell is also a tale of forbidden love – superbly written and successfully translated to the screen.
CURRENT ISSUES / LEGAL MATTERS / OPINION
by Daniel Stepniak · Published 24 August 2019 · Last modified 3 October 2022
Reading Time: 4 minutesGeorge Pell has one remaining avenue of appeal – the High Court. However, the prerequisites to such an appeal suggest that it is highly unlikely to be heard.
by Daniel Stepniak · Published 22 August 2019 · Last modified 3 October 2022
Reading Time: 2 minutesDeep State is an action packed, in-the-field, espionage drama. Currently there are two series. The main theme of both series is the exposure of corporate fraud and manipulation of US military policy and ventures.The settings are exotic, and the story is action-packed. But above all, the portrayal of the deep state in the context of the ‘war on terror’ is very powerful and convincing.
by Daniel Stepniak · Published 19 August 2019 · Last modified 4 October 2022
Reading Time: 2 minutesAs the film’s name suggests, it recounts a tale set in 1969 Hollywood. For his last feature film, Tarantino has cast actors of the highest calibre. Anticipation and dread of the historically violent ending of the story, builds up ithroughout the film. Tarantino does not disappoint, delivering extreme violence, but on his terms. Whether you love it or not, you’re unlikely to regret seeing it.
by Daniel Stepniak · Published 13 August 2019 · Last modified 16 August 2019
Reading Time: 2 minutesThis Scandinavian noir series tells the story of a Chechen suicide bombing mastermind, who had been thought to be dead, but resurfaces seeking asylum in Finland. The central figures are personally troubled members of the secret service and police force. This series delivers ample believable and entertaining bleak tension and suspense. The ever present tension and non stop developments make this a perfect series to binge-watch.
Reading Time: 3 minutesBoasting a stellar Australian cast, Palm Beach is a thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining film with a distinctly Australian, but not cliched, character.
It is the story of a reunion of old friends flown in to Palm Beach to celebrate a birthday.
The uncontrived dialogue and dry laconic sense of humour allows the script to entertain while dealing with often real and confronting issues.
CURRENT ISSUES / OPINION / RELIGION
by Daniel Stepniak · Published 22 July 2019 · Last modified 15 October 2022
Reading Time: 5 minutesThe beliefs expressed by Folau are also held by a number of Australian Christian denominations. In particular, there is absolutely no doubt that some Christian beliefs may incite hatred and even violence. However, religious belief does not legally justify the breaking of the law. For that reason, an appreciation of what the expression or exercise of some Christian religious beliefs can entail is required in order to understand why the expression of some religious beliefs needs to be curtailed.
CURRENT ISSUES / GENDER EQUALITY
by Daniel Stepniak · Published 18 July 2019 · Last modified 25 August 2019
Reading Time: 2 minutesBri spoke engagingly about her book, her time as a judge’s associate, as well as her experiences as a complainant in a sexual assault case. She also spoke about her current advocacy to reform Queensland’s outdated rape law. This law allows a person accused of sexual assault to rely on the defence that ‘they had a mistaken but honest and reasonable belief that sex was consensual’. Bri Lee came across as a very bright, eloquent, committed and brave young woman. I was particularly impressed with her capacity to see the big picture.
AUSTRALIAN POLITICS / CURRENT ISSUES / OPINION
by Daniel Stepniak · Published 12 July 2019 · Last modified 13 July 2019
Reading Time: 2 minutesThe Australian constitution should be amended to recognise the historical and current place of our Indigenous people.
Flowing from this recognition of cultures predating European arrival, I propose that Indigenous people should be guaranteed 12 seats in the Senate and every other protection guaranteed to inhabitants of an original Australian State.
Reading Time: 4 minutesThis series tells the story of the demise of the Romanov dynasty under Czar Nicholas II. The presentation of this story is unique in that it is told simultaneously in three different ways – predominantly as a superbly cast and acted, and beautifully presented, television drama, through regular brief documentary segments, and as an additional aspect of this story, told dramatically in the bookends of this series and in short instalments throughout.
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Academic Writings