Romper Stomper

A visually stylish but brutally violent film that manages to be both thoughtfully entertaining and viscerally effective despite its controversial subject matter, Geoffrey Wright's feature debut offers future mega-star Russell Crowe in a repulsively effective early performance. Sparking initial controversy for its alleged ambivalence regarding its protagonists' lifestyle, the vigilant viewer sees through this somewhat transparent attack upon witnessing the ultimate fate of the majority of the vicious gang. As with subsequent efforts such as American History X, however, Romper Stomper offers no easy answer or escape for the hateful protagonists, only the cold reality that you get out of life what you put into it. Positive or negative, nothing is spelled out for viewers in Wright's world, with fate speaking for itself in no uncertain terms. Don't be mistaken though, Wright's characters are decidedly human despite their grotesque beliefs and the horrific actions they result in. By laying the issue of race aside as the story progresses, the viewer is drawn into a universally human story, albeit one with startlingly violent consequences. Moving at a clip thanks to skilled editing and upbeat pacing, even viewers with initial hesitation are sure to be drawn into the story before they realize what hit them. In the end, anyone who accuses Romper Stomper of glorifying the lifestyle it portrays has simply been blinded by the subject matter. The message is indeed there, it's just that {c$Wright takes delight in making his audience work for it. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide