Bra Boys (2007)

60% of critics liked it
(30 reviews)
71% of users liked it
(3,385 ratings)

International film star Russell Crowe narrates writer/director Sunny Abberton's documentary examination of the infamous Sydney surfer gang that made headlines in the mid-'90s for a string of violent turf wars, drunken rumbles, and confrontations with the local authorities. A poor suburb of Sydney,… More International film star Russell Crowe narrates writer/director Sunny Abberton's documentary examination of the infamous Sydney surfer gang that made headlines in the mid-'90s for a string of violent turf wars, drunken rumbles, and confrontations with the local authorities. A poor suburb of Sydney, Maroubra would become a key component in Sydney beach culture in the few years before the millennial changeover. Though the gang was praised by some locals for their efforts in rescuing kids whose lives seemed doomed for disaster, things soon took a tragic turn when members Jai and Koby were accused of murder and placed on trial in a local court. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 26 min.
Directed By: Macario De Souza, Sunny Abberton
Written By: Sunny Abberton
Genres: Documentary, Special Interest

In Theaters: Aug 12, 2008 Wide
On DVD: Aug 12, 2008
Studio: Slowhand Cinema Releasing

Critic Reviews

Sid Smith, Chicago Tribune
A messy, cheeky, inelegant but unusual and interesting memoir.
Gene Seymour, Newsday
You know going in that this is going to be a fairly one-sided portrait. But it's also fairly thorough with its archival footage, historical and sociological perspective.
Richard Kuipers, Variety
Lengthy coverage of a murder trial involving Jai and Koby supplies the odd moment of meaningful reflection, but the overall impression is that of an unconvincing PR exercise.
Peter Hartlaub, San Francisco Chronicle
What begins as a probing look at this culture feels in the end like pro-surf gang propaganda.
Clark Collis, Entertainment Weekly
An often fascinating but awkward mix.
Kyle Smith, New York Post
The film is narrated by Russell Crowe, whose star power is probably the only reason it's being released here.
Brent Simon, Shared Darkness
A grim bauble, sure, but part of the narrative illustrates how even amidst the burdens of a stigmatized legacy, a new generation can hope and strive for a way to end violence.
Nora Lee Mandel, Film-Forward.com
In-depth intimate portrait of how a tough Aussie environment within a larrikin culture of rebels with or without a cause has produced spectacular professional surfers.
Josh Rosenblatt, Austin Chronicle
A piece of PR propaganda.
Beth Accomando, KPBS.org
It aspires to but falls short of Dogtown's inspired, edgy mix of sports history, pop culture, social commentary, and revealing interviews.
Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
...there's an undeniable energy to this subjective, self-serving film which at times says more than it means to about this male-dominated culture.
Amber Wilkinson, Eye for Film
It may be brash and a slightly biased but it nonetheless offers a fascinating insight into this surfing society.
Matt Pais, Metromix.com
A story of loyalty that men can relate to while their significant others see Sex and the City.
Tom Keogh, Seattle Times
An odd and suspect mix of documentary and public relations.
M.E. Russell, Oregonian
Thanks to the documentarian also making his family the film's subject, Bra Boys feels more than a little like a violence-glorifying infomercial.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
Maddeningly shallow.