A brutally realistic work that depicts the true nature of skinheads years before American History X. And Romper Stomper has much more of an impact on the viewer because of it's extreme realism. American History X takes some of most brutal scenes of all time and just makes them look like silly Lifetime specials by slowing it all down and making everything melodramatic. Romper Stomper does the opposite, it films everything as it happens, making it one of the most disturbingly realistic works I've ever seen. Also, unlike other films about skinheads, Romper Stomper takes a completely unbiased look at their culture. Instead of showing everyone has rude, inconsiderate miscreants and then centering the film on the one person who is above at all, this film displays their culture for what it really is. A realistic look at the skinheads, instead of an over-dramatic look at the struggle one person makes to get out. Russell Crowe is disturbingly natural, fully absorbed and overwhelmingly commanding in his greatest performance of all time. Never have I seen Crowe become a character so well. He completely wraps his mind around this man and scares the hell out of me during his most violent scenes. The soundtrack also plays a vital part to the film. It's punk rock, hard-hitting sound really makes the viewer feel like they are with these skinheads and ready, to put it simply, to kick some ass. This all being said, the editing can get pretty sloppy and sketchy at times and the sound (primarily the sounds of the hits in the opening scene) are pretty poor at times. Gabe's story also felt a bit unnecessary, but I suppose it did have key plot points to move the story along. The whole thing with her dad though, really could have been left out. The ending is also pretty terrible. For such a natural, realistic film I wouldn't expect such an annoyingly unrealistic ending.
Review of Romper Stomper
