|
| • Advanced Search • Help |
Romper Stomper | Year: 1993 Classification: Drama Directed: - Geoffrey Wright Actors/Actresses: - Russell Crowe GOD SENT US... ROMPER STOMPER, the debut film of former film critic Geoffrey Wringht, stars Russell Crowe, in his break-out role, Daniel Pollock, who died in post-production in a heroin induced train "accident", and Jacqueline McKenzie, in her feature film debut. ROMPER STOMPER is the story of Hando (Crowe) and his gang of Mein Kamf spouting, violent, thug, neo-nazi skinheads, including his best mate Davey (Pollock). The gang lives in deep poverty in an abandoned warehouse, eating pathetic meals and drinking like sailors (not to mention swearing like them as well). Hando soon becomes involved with a young drug addicted ecliptic girl, Gabe (McKenzie). When the gangs secondary hangout, a local bar, is purchased by a Vietnamese immigrant and his sons, the gang starts an intense turf war resulting in the most violent, realistic 20 minutes fight scene in cinematic history. Once the cops come onto the gangs tail Hando leads them in a quest for money and guns, to get revenge on the Vietnamese community. During this sequence of events, Davey and Gabe become friends and soon more then friends resulting in a distorted love triangle. Rated NC-17 when first released this is one of the most provocative, intense, powerful films of the 90's. A stunning directional debut from Wright and an equally stunning acting job by Crowe. The DVD's bonus feature's were so myriad that it took 2 discs to hold them all. Included is a talking track by Geoffrey Wright, in which he discusses about the filming of ROMPER STOMPER and interesting tid-bits about particular scenes as they appear on screen. Also included on the first disc is a music track where the nazi punk rock songs, excellently composed by Clifford White, can be heard alone. On the second disc their is the theatrical trailer for the film, which is in my humblest oppinion the best trailer I've seen (it actually made me want to see the film again that night). There are the written reviews of major publications promoting the film and discussing how amazing and powerful it is. Biographies of all involved with project are included as well as over 60 minutes of interviews from 1992 when the film was first released and over 30 minutes of interviews with Geoffrey Wright from 2000, reflecting on the film and it's impact on society. As well as all those features a demonstration of how the film was restored from the first American edition of the film, which had 1/4 of the film cut of from sight and had the look of a 1940's television program. Finally there is a track of photographs from the film displayed accompanied by interesting facts about the film, it's battle with censorship, and about the stars of the film. All in all a fabulous film, and a fabulous assortment of extras make this DVD a 5 star (if not 6 star) hit. Powerful An extremly intense film, Romper Stomper pulls no punches. Shot in a kind of artsy blue haze, the movie revolves around a group of Neo-Nazi skinheads who are attempting to fight off a flood of Vietnamese immigration into Melbourne, Australia. The group is lead by 'Hando' - A strong and charismatic leader played by Russell Crowe. Crowe is amazing as he manages to convey a sence vulnerability beneath his uncompromising anger. A scene in which Crowe qoutes parts of Adolf Hitler's 'Mein Kampf' is mesmerizing. Things begin to disolve, however, when a love triangle begins between Hando, his girlfriend Gabe (Jaqueline McKenzie) and Hando's best friend Davey who is portrayed very low-key by Daniel Pollock. The situation is compounded when an attack on some Vietnamese immigrants back fires and the Skins are forced to defend themselves against a raging mob of immigrants resulting in the loss of their home. Writer/Director Geoffry Wright came under attack by Leftist critics for not hitting everyone over the head, like American History X, with an anti-racist civics lesson - His position comes across as neutral. Indeed, one can almost sympathize with the group as they are convinced Australia's future depends on its racial and cultural purity. Without a doubt, this movie is worth owning. REDEFINES "RAW" AND COUCHES MORE THAN AN ETHNIC MESSAGE Filmed in gut-wrenching 16mm with a hand held, this is a courageously unsparing film of a neo-Nazi skinhead gang in Melbourne (Australia) obsessed with the danger they perceive in the growing population of Vietnamese immigrants. Although it has been criticized for "glorifying" skinheads and not taking a moral position against them, neither criticism is really well-founded. It is clear that the director and the actors made a great effort to get inside the characters, to make them human beings -- however repulsive -- and not simply caricatures. Still, the skinhead lifestyle depicted is mean, mindless, unromantic and, ultimately, pointless. Which becomes clear at the end when the leader (brilliantly played by Crowe) commits one final act of brutal bullying. What was their message really? Also, for all their posturing, they are mindless bullies, ganging up on isolated victims, and they are completely undone when faced with victims who join forces and fight back with the same intensity. By the end, all but one of the gang members is in jail or dead, which seems to me to be a pretty powerful moral statement. It is surely not perfect but it features genuinely terrifying performances of men totally twisted and misshapen by hatred, frustration and fear, yet capable of genuine affection and tenderness towards their best friends. I recommend renting this out if you have some appetite for gore and unflinching visuals. Buy Romper Stomper at Amazon.com Buy posters at Allposters.com Jamster - the latest ringtones for your phone!  Search with Walhello on the Internet on Romper Stomper Search with the Priority Search Engine on Romper Stomper This page in other languages: Suomeksi | Nederlands | Deutsch
|
