Travis Akbar
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Articles by Travis Akbar
Incarceration Nation
Dean Gibson, a Guugu Yimithirr man, is the writer and director of Incarceration Nation, one of the latest documentaries on SBS On Demand. It’s worth noting this because Incarceration Nation, for those who believe this country was ‘settled’ and is equal for all, is essential viewing. Gibson says that ‘Australia was founded by the English with one clear purpose: to create a prison island. More than two hundred years later, not much has changed.’ It’s a strong statement.
Book review: Just Money
Share Tweet Share Linkedin Email Print article Local arts needs local journalism. Donate to InReview today. Growing up, I didn’t understand debt, I didn’t understand savings, and I knew nothing about money. After moving to Adelaide to study for a few years at TAFE SA, I ended up dropping out. I couldn’t afford to go further than my Advanced Diploma because… money.
Book review: Just Money
Growing up, I didn’t understand debt, I didn’t understand savings, and I knew nothing about money. After moving to Adelaide to study for a few years at TAFE SA, I ended up dropping out. I couldn’t afford to go further than my Advanced Diploma because… money. Just over a decade later and I am working full-time on top of being a freelance writer, and I just signed a contract to write a feature film for a company in the US. I’m married and have children.
If you think Dark Emu is controversial, wait until you hear about genocide
AAP By Travis Akbar July 6, 2021 Bruce Pascoe or Uncle Bruce Pascoe? A question many a Sky News host seems to lose sleepover. But is it their place to decide? Is it even relevant? Fuck no. Since Pascoe’s book Dark Emu was published, a bunch of ageing colonisers have been obsessed with discrediting not only Pascoe’s work but his very Aboriginality. They don’t actually give a fuck about him or have some kind of real moral argument about him identifying as Aboriginal.
My Name is Gulpilil
In 1955, Charles Chauvel’s Jedda – the first colour feature film made in Australia – was released. At the January première in Darwin, the two Aboriginal cast members, Rosalie Kunoth-Monks and Robert Tudawali, were the only ones permitted to sit with the white people. (Later that year it was released in the United Kingdom as Jedda the Uncivilized.) Jedda is Kunoth-Monks only film credit as an actress, while Tudawali has four to his name.
My Name is Gulpilil
Film A revered actor who bucked trends ABCDFilm Film A revered actor who bucked trends ABCDFilm A still from the documentary My Name is Gulpilil (ABCGFilm) In 1955, Charles Chauvel’s Jedda – the first colour feature film made in Australia – was released. At the January première in Darwin, the two Aboriginal cast members, Rosalie Kunoth-Monks and Robert Tudawali, were the only ones permitted to sit with the white people.
The Foundations Are Crumbling in Australia's Parliament House
Trigger Warning: This article contains mentions of sexual assault and trauma. On the third of March 2021, the ‘alleged’ cabinet rapist, Christian Porter, or as referred to in this article as ‘The Perpetrator’, stepped out of the shadows to claim his innocence – after a week earlier a damning letter had been delivered to the office of the Prime Minister. The ‘material’, as the perpetrator constantly referred to it in his press conference alleged that he had raped a young woman in 1988.
Why Indigenous People Are Demanding Reparations
While a financial contribution will do nothing to stop the intergenerational trauma felt by many First Nations people -- it might go a long way to make up for the lack of opportunities that Indigenous people have had to build wealth and assets. Invasion Day has passed for another year, as have the numerous protests that are held around the country by Indigenous people, and the many non-Indigenous people that enjoy showing their support by walking with us in solidarity.
What’s pride in a country without pride in ourselves?
On the 26 January 1938 this day was declared a Day of Mourning for Indigenous peoples in Australia.
2021 Needs To Be A Year Of Change For Indigenous People
In a surprising and yet meaningless display of tokenism, on the eve of the new year, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced a simple change to the Australian National Anthem. A move clearly made with minimal consultation with Indigenous communities (not that you really need to consult anyone, mob have been publishing and screaming their views and reason for years)when he announced that he’d changed the word “young”, to the word “one”.
Rampage Review
Between the Rock and a hard place, Dwayne still saves the day. Well, he helps at least. Video game movie Rampage is the latest output from Brad Peyton and star Dwayne Johnson whom previously worked together on San Andreas and Journey 2: The Mysterious Island. After a failed experiment, three animals become mutated in size and characteristics, leading to catastrophic damage being caused. One of the animals, George, an albino Gorilla is the friend of Primatologist Davis Okoye (Johnson).
Australia Post Updated Their Address Policy To Include Traditional First Nations Place Names
Politics #AlwaysWasAlwaysWillBe by Rashna Farrukh 13 November 2020 In some positive NAIDOC week news, Australia Post has encouraging people to use the traditional First Nations name of places when sending their mail. This follows a successful grassroots campaign led by Gomeroi woman Rachael McPhail, in which she has received almost 15,000 signatures of support. “Adding in the nation or Country that you are on is something easy that all Aussies can do to be more inclusive of our Indigenous history.
Opinion: We Need to Be Including First Nations Country Names in Postal Addresses
A campaign is underway to see Australia Post and the federal government use traditional Indigenous Australian place names as part of official address information, and it’s gaining traction. Campaign organisers are also encouraging people to become accustomed to using the names of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nations in postal addresses.
Hellboy Review
As much as I shouldn’t be, I’m comparing Neil Marshall’s Hellboy to the Guillermo Del Toro efforts of the mid 2000’s. I just can’t help myself. What Del Toro did with those films was create a wonderful universe with interesting and rousing characters. Ron Perlman was great in the role; he delivered his lines perfectly and gave the character a big heart. John Hurt was perfect as Professor Broom – he loved his adopted son Hellboy from the get-go and his performance showed that.
The impact of Indigenous art on a world stage
In 2015, actor and longtime art collector Steve Martin began adding Aboriginal art to his collection after reading a New York Times article about Western Desert painter Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri. The story was about an exhibition of his paintings in New York, and Martin - known for owning pieces from Andy Warhol and the likes - subsequently acquired one of his works.
Tokenism happens but we need this to shift to representation and change
Since first arrivals of colonisers, there have been countless falsehoods perpetuated about our people and the narrative rarely changes from demonising, infantilising and patronising us. The mainstream population has heard this through media amplification of governmental messaging, that we cannot survive without them, we cannot parent, we cannot be responsible with money, we will not work, cannot be trusted and that they are sustaining us.
I Kill Giants Review
I am generally an optimist. I try to find around a way around the negatives by focusing on the positives, but, as most of you would probably know, that is not always possible. Having said that, the first thing I need to say about the film I Kill Giants is – It pissed me off. I love fantasy films. Lord of the Rings for me was amazing. John Carter was great. The Labyrinth was awesome and the one Tim Burton movie I like – Sleepy Hollow – is one of my favourites.
Force of Nature Review - B-Grade Action with A-Grade Problems
I’ve always been a fan of Emile Hirsch, I absolutely loved The Girl Next Door, and Into the Wild was fantastic. He’s talented, and there’s never been anything else to say on the matter. So, I was surprised and slightly miffed when I read his IMDB trivia and found out about his 2015 attack on a female Paramount Executive after he had had far too much to drink. While the alcohol is no excusing factor, it still was, from what I have read, a factor non the less.
The Plastic House: Allison Chhorn's Documentary is a Simple, Beautiful, Effective Ode to Change
I was halfway through The Plastic House before I realised there hadn’t actually been any dialogue yet. The last time I watched a documentary like this, I was not a fan, but with this documentary, I found that wasn’t an issue. The Plastic House follows writer/director Allison Chhorn as she contemplates what life might be like without her parents. What would she do? How would she feel? How would she grieve? The film – which has been labelled in places as ‘experimental’ – is fantastic.
Unhinged Review - Russell Crowe Leads A Brutal, Well-Acted Thriller, a Fitting Return to the Cinema
Trigger warning: this review discusses aspects of domestic violence. Unhinged is the newest Russell Crowe feature, and one of the biggest films opening in select cinemas since pandemic related cancellations began. I’ll get into my thoughts on the film shortly, but I wanted to note that, sadly, this film is a true reflection of society. I feel like I can see exactly what inspired it every day on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter.
Descent - A Dead-Cold Reflection
Descent is a beautiful film. It follows professional free diver Kiki Bosch as she free dives in the coldest water possible. Taking one deep breath, and without a wetsuit, Kiki delves into the depths of the frozen lakes of Finland or the iceberg fjords of Greenland. It’s an amazing and frightening skill, and it is exactly that. As Kiki has trained incredibly hard to be able to do what she does. From the beginning of Descent, it is clear that she is one of a kind. Strong and resilient.
What Goes Around - Extremely low budget, but effective
What Goes Around is a very low budget slasher film that succeeds where many fail – having a decent story. It doesn’t rely on some weak supernatural curse or some cataclysmic rampaging psychopath unexplainably back from the dead. It has a plot, and it’s deeper than you think. What Goes Around revolves around Erin, played here by Catherine Morvell. She’s a quiet college student who has suffered from anxiety since an incident at a party messed with her head.
Firesticks Co-Director Clare Richardson Interview - Melbourne Documentary Film Festival
In early 2020, when Australia was in the midst of some of the most horrific fires it has ever seen, the ABC’s Q&A, doing what Q&A does, took advantage of the situation and lined up a panel of guests to discuss the situation. One of the panellists on the episode was Victor Steffenson, and Indigenous fire practitioner, who was there to help explain the benefits of utilizing Indigenous land management skills. Steffenson spoke with knowledge and charisma and left many in agreeance.
8 Short Docs not to be missed - Melbourne Documentary Film Festival
The Melbourne Documentary Film Festival is afoot, and there are plenty of films to watch, from 5 minutes to feature length. It’s hard to know what to choose so I did some choosing for you. I’ve crafted a list of 8 very impressive short docos that you shouldn’t miss. They are in no particular order, because they are all great, and deserve some attention. Clockumentary Clockumenary follows drummer and self-proclaimed time-master-traveller-controller-something-or-rather, Brian ‘Toggs’ Toggle.
Interview with The Walrus and the Whistleblower director Nathalie Bibeau - Melbourne Documentary Film Festival
The short is that The Walrus and the Whistle-Blower is interesting. The 2020 documentary which is directed by Nathalie Bibeau follows former ‘Marineland’ animal trainer Phil Demers as he tries to rescue a Walrus from an organisation he was once employed from the inhumane treatment that Marineland was implementing as part of the program. I have to say, I didn’t mind Phil.
Below – Packing punches like no other! | The Curb
Ryan Corr stars in Below as a careless, scummy cyber-bunk named Dougie. He can’t seem to really get anything right and he’s also pretty unlucky – as demonstrated by the severe opening scenes of Dougie getting the absolute crap smashed out of him. It’s an awesome opening scene, and we it tells us who Dougie is exactly. He’s what is said above, and he knows it. He adores it. With each punch comes a smart-ass quip, is a small form of rebellion, but also a glimpse of dignity.
{Perspectives} Jon Julio - 5 minutes you wont forget
I used to love skateboarding, mainy runs on the skateboard was a regular in my youth, but sadly, the height of my skills was landing a kickflip – once. So skateboarding wasn’t a love of mine for a long time, but I sure enjoy watching it. So getting the chance to take a look at {Perspectives} Jon Julio, which is about rollerblading, certainly peaked my interest, and was something I was happy to do.
Batman and Me Director Michael Wayne Interview - Melbourne Documentary Film Festival
Batman & Me follows Darren Maxwell. Darren seems like a good bloke, an average Joe who works hard and lives a peaceful. He’s made some short films and been on family feud. But what is most interesting about Darren, which you wouldn’t know by looking at him, is that he is a collector. But what does he collect? Well, he started off with Star Wars collectables, but when it turned out that someone else, he knew was already on top of that, he realised he needed to focus on something else. BATMAN.
Interview with Wongar Director Andrijana Stojkovic - Melbourne Documentary Film Festival
Wongar, the feature documentary that follows controversial author Sreten Bozic aka B. Wongar is now streaming at the Melbourne Documentary Film Festival. Director Andrijana Stojkovic talks about her experience shooting in Australia, with dingoes, and with the controversial B. Wongar. Sreten Bozic is an interesting man with an interesting story, how long have you known his story? I’ve learned about Wongar (Sreten Bozić) by chance.
Crypto Rush Review - A Visual Feast but an Information Overload
I need to start this review by saying, in all honesty, I did not come out of watching Crypto Rush with much more of an understanding of crypto currency before I went in. So please don’t ask me about it. But having said that, I really enjoyed it. Written, Executive Produced and Directed by Liliana Pertenava, Crypto Rush attempts to give the viewer a better understanding of the aforementioned Cryptocurrency.
Bernard's Dream Director Mayeta Clark Interview - Melbourne Documentary Film Festival
Last year I interviewed Miranda Taspsell before going on to catch the Top End Wedding for a second time at the Adelaide Film Festival. The film was great, but one performance in particular stuck with me. It wasn’t Miranda’s, even though she was great. It was a small performance by a man named Bernard Tipiloura. He played Miranda Tapsell’s character’s grandfather. His performance was quint, subtle, and very sweet. When I switched on Bernard’s Dream, I recognised him immediately.
Top End Wedding Review
Yes, bloody yes, Lauren (Miranda Tapsell) exclaims after overly excited fiancé-to-be Ned (Gwilym Lee) bends down mid-sentence to ask her one simple question. Will you? Well I, too, say yes, bloody yes, save the date. May 2, 2019. Top End Wedding opens hilariously with Lauren about to become the newest associate at her law firm – provided she overcomes a few hurdles to lock in a major deal and land some new clients.
Ocean to Sky Review - The Story of a Lifetime
Ocean to Sky is a feature length documentary that recounts the experiences of New Zealand’s Edmund Hillary and his friends as they embark on an expedition up the entire length of India’s sacred river Ganges, in a jet boat, and then set out to climb peak Akash Parbat. Director Michael Dillon uses existing and unseen footage from his own time, making the Award-Winning Documentary, From the Ocean to the Sky which followed the expedition back in 1977.
The Realm Review - Fantastic Political Thrills
The Realm is based around Antonio de la Torre’s character Manuel Lopez-Vidal: a high-class politician whose life begins to stream out of control when and his party and his corrupt business dealings threaten to become public. Director Rodrigo Sorogoyen co-writes this extremely well-polished story with Isabel Peña, providing a narrative so fluent and compelling that it didn’t matter if you missed out on the odd subtitle here and there.
Us Review
Jordan Peele, the genius behind Get Out comes back to scare the bejesus out of us with, well, Us. All he had to do to scare me though was just make a movie about people eating toffee apple. That is gross. Us features Lupita Nyong’o, Winston Duke, Evan Alex, and Shahadi Wright Joseph as the Wilson family.
Burden Review - A Film About Second Chances at a Time When They're Needed the Most
I cannot stress how much of a struggle it was for me to get through this movie. Burden centres around Mike Burden, a prominent Ku Klux Klan member who opens a KKK Museum in a South Carolina town, but after falling in love with a single mother, and forming an unlikely friendship with an African-American Reverend, he has to choose between the clan, or his new family. To start off with, the cast was great.
If All Lives Mattered, Australia Would Shut Up And Listen
The hashtag #AllLivesMatter first became a prominent term around 2013, when #BlackLivesMatter started trending after George Zimmerman was acquitted of murdering Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old African-American teen. It is a phrase coined in direct opposition to the Black Lives Matter movement, and is generally only used to actively speak over the top of, as opposed to alongside, Black voices — and it works in direct contradiction to the statement that the Black Lives Matter movement is making.
The Hole in the Ground Review
The Hole in the Ground, directed by Lee Cronin, is a tense look into the lives of single mum and apparent domestic violence victim, Sarah O’Neill (Seána Kerslake), and her young son Chris (James Quinn Markey), when they retreat to what seems like a safer abode than where they’ve come from. After an argument, Sarah chases her son into the forest where they discover a huge sinkhole not far from their home. The gigantic pit churns in ground 24/7 and is seemingly bottomless.
Fish Out of Water Review
Ignorance is bliss has never been so true as it is in Israel Cannan’s documentary Fish out of Water. The documentary centres around two men, Tom Hudson and Pete Fletcher, who make the decision to cross the North Atlantic Ocean in a wooden rowboat, with zero sea faring abilities. Tom and Pete are not athletes, they’re not rowers, and they have no experience.
Escape from Pretoria Review - An Escape from Isolation
Escape from Pretoria. The South Australian filmed, Daniel Radcliffe starring thriller is available for rent (for a hefty price) so I decided to check it out. The Coronavirus restrictions have ensured that I’ve already spent a bucketload on renting new titles so what’s one more. Based on a true story, Escape from Pretoria focuses on the prison break of two political prisoners in a South African prison during the days of Apartheid.
Quibi Review - A Quick Bite Rundown of a Quick Bite Service
A ‘quibi’ review of Quibi What is Quibi? A Streaming service. How can I watch it? On your phone (and that’s it). How much does it cost? $12.99 per month. How do I pronounce Quibi? Fuck Knows. So, what is Quibi exactly? It’s a streaming service like Netflix, Stan and Disney, but it provides exclusive, short form content (ie. no episode runs over 7 minutes) that can only be viewed on your phone.
Revenge Review
Rape Revenge movies. Do we need them? From I Spit On Your Grave 1 through 4 to Big Driver to Bound to Vengeance, they seem to be here to stay – and they all have one thing in common. Even straight up revenge films with female leads – Eye for an Eye, The Last House on the Left and The Brave One – have the same common denominator. Male directors. A male telling a female how to feel when she is being raped, abused, beaten and harassed. It doesn’t seem right.
The Man is SID 6.7: Russell Crowe Goes Dark Again
Let’s be honest, Coronavirus has killed a lot of people, screwed the economy, and given a lot of people an unwanted and unaffordable holiday. In the scheme of things, not being able to go to the cinema isn’t a big deal. It certainly sucks for the film and cinema industry. But for me, it’s a Thursday afternoon where I watch something on SBS on Demand instead of spending fifty bucks down at Mt. Barker Wallis. Regardless of how small my issue’s may be, I still cannot wait to get back to the cinema.
Cook's Legacy - The Modern Polly's Folly
Given that acceptance of Aboriginal existence pre-colonisation has been so much later than it should have been, I found it apt that I gave my opinion on the anniversary of Cook’s first time visiting Oz a little bit late too. This piece, which is largely satire, was written with the good old aussie notion to call it like you see it, in mind. The year was 1770, the month was April.
Don’t Let Go Review - Acceptable Isolation Entertainment
Two decades ago, the earth had a pretty decent sci-fi crime thriller in the form of Dennis Quaid and Jim Caviezel starrer Frequency. It was reasonably original and great entertainment. In 2016 a TV series of Frequency, starring Peyton List and Riley Smith was released on Netflix, which was also reasonable entertainment.
Protect and Serve Review - A Dive into the Moral Dilemma of Police
“People sleep peacefully in their beds at night, because rough men stand ready to do violence, on their behalf; and they will fucking hate you for it” – Ray Mandel, Protect and Serve Protect and Serve, also known as Crown Vic, follows veteran police officer, Ray Mandel (Thomas Jane) on his first night as a training officer. His ‘boot’ (slang for rookie) is young police officer (and the son of a legend cop) Nick Holland (Luke Kleintank).
Astronaut Review - A Much Needed Lift (Off)
Covid-19 hasn’t exactly brought the best out in people; there’s been violence, abuse, harassment, racism, and a shitload of fines. Seeing any positivity, especially in the mainstream media, has been something of a rarity. For this reason alone, I was absolutely delighted to have gotten the chance to check out the latest Richard Dreyfuss latest effort, Astronaut.
Reprisal Review
Frank Grillo stars as Jacob in recent Defiant Screen Entertainment release Reprisal, a bank manager, whom after a bank robbery, begins to try and track down the perpetrator, Gabriel (Jonathon Schaech), alongside his retired cop neighbour James (Bruce Willis). The title ‘Reprisal’ is quite fitting in terms of the story as it’s not just Jacob seeking out revenge on Gabriel, but after Jacob foils one of Gabriel’s robbery attempts, Gabriel also goes after Jacob.
The Predator Series Review: Now You See It
Film Ratings Predator - 5 Predator 2 - 2.5 Predators - 4 In the mid 1990’s I spent the weekend at my dad’s house. I can’t remember the exact year, I can’t remember my exact age – probably a little too young – but one thing I do remember is Bill Duke’s head getting splattered all over the screen. Carl Weathers arm getting blown off. Jesse Ventura speaking but not understanding a word – what the hell is an Alabama tick? Arnie backing up to the roots covered in mud.
CTG is not our 'problem' but we have solutions. |
Earlier in the year, before the pandemic was an apparent problem in Australia, the main health issue in discussion was Indigenous health. With the anniversary of the National Apology to the Stolen Generations on February 13, came the annual revision of the Closing the Gap report. The end result was that Closing the Gap has been a huge failure.
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