Early Russell Crowe flick that become popular again with the star's international celebrity status, Romper Stomper is the kind of film that will make you hate racism to your core. The movie makes you feel like getting an inside glimpse into the closed world of young skinheads of the late 20th century in Australia and it's good in that sense, yet it also lacks a balanced portrait as almost everything these young kids do, say or feel seem to be tainted with pure evil - there's too much black and white here, I think.

I'm sorry, but this was an incredibly hateful movie where the persecuted Melbourne skinheads go all out against the Australian- Vietnamese community (and by extension anyone who looks Asian). What a nuanced script I guess. I can only wonder how the Australian-Vietnamese actors were sold the script. Was there full disclosure by the casting director? I know the actors are professionals, but did they experience a sinking feeling seeing the actors playing skinheads on set? Did the Australian-Vietnamese actors get an invite to the movie's premiere? Or were they collateral to the script?I also wonder how Hando and Co felt towards the LGBTI community. Did they express anger and bigotry to gays, lesbians, etc? Maybe a sequel, say Romper Again, can examine how the next generation of Hando's ilk feel towards gay marriage and so on. Hopefully the LGBTI community(ies) don't feel threatened by people like Hando, et al.

It's hard to imagine many times when you actually think to yourself, 'Hey... I really fancy sitting down to watch a film about Nazi skinheads, beating up people they perceive as different.' However, just because the subject matter is pretty distasteful, doesn't mean that the film's that bad.Naturally, a lot of people claim that this film is 'racist propaganda' and refuse to watch it. However, after spending just over ninety minutes in the company of these 'Hitler worshipping' Aussie thugs, I can't see that their lifestyle would come across as very appealing to anyone – even the very impressionable among the audience. You could hardly want to be like these guys.The other thing 'Romper Stomper' is remembered for is Russell Crowe's performance as the main skinhead character. He does play him well – scarily well. It's amazing that he was able to build what became quite a diverse career on his angry, monotone performance here. Russell and his crew spend their days hunting down 'non white' residents who they're convinced are bringing down the neighbourhood and taking it away from the 'natural' white race. And, when they're not hitting other people, they're also hitting each other while jumping up and down to 'shouty' type skinhead music, spouting the wonders of 'bald-headed fighting men.' Just like 'Trainspotting' was a film about undesirable junkies, this is a film about undesirable skinheads. Neither tells you to behave like those on screen, but both offer a world into a (thankfully) niche group of people and the way they live their lives. You certainly don't have to like what to see to enjoy the film. Just be thankful you don't have Russell and co living next door to you.

One of the better Australian movies to emanate from the 90's stars Russell Crowe before home-wrecking, hotel telephones and Oscars as an aggressive skinhead (Hando) whose relationship with best friend Daniel Pollock (Davy) sours over the ever-escalating brand of racism he practices, and the presence of Jacqueline Mackenzie's character with whom both are involved - Crowe's neglect paves the way for Pollock's advances and so the rivalry emerges.Apart from Crowe (who is essentially monotone in-character) and Mackenzie as a misguided rich kid rebelling in the extreme, only Sam Wyllie is recognisable as one of the motley crew. Though Pollock could have potentially become a recognisable actor, tragically his life ended prematurely shortly following this film.Generally, like a great many Australian pictures, "Romper Stomper" is edgy and raw, and the content of the film is fairly uncompromising in its violent and sometimes graphic detail (read nudity). This all bodes well if you're comfortable with the subject matter as you shouldn't be disappointed.