Intense, gripping, stylish and poignant

It's a mild crowd pleaser for people who are exhausted by blockbusters.

The movie is wonderful and true, an act of love in all its contradictions and complexity

Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

Sorry I hate to be negative about my fellow country men - but really this is a fairly bad film. Did any one notice that the dead mother was a brunette at the being of the film - but a blonde in the closing flashback/montage? The script was weak - the acting flat and the character development non existent. Odd that a town like Newcastle should be such a hot bed of tap? Well Who am I to judge - I just hope that Dein Perry never gets to direct another film. On a positive note at least Sohpie Lee and Susie Porter had the good grace to look a tad embarrassed by the whole thing. Oh and the gay content at the end seemed just plain silly I think

i actually liked the movie a lot. i happened to see it one day on IFC, and enjoyed it so much i made my Australia native fiancé watch it after he said everyone he knew that saw it back when it came out said it was crap. i thought it was very predictable...but cute still. All those little tap dancing Aussie all cute and tapping for a cause. All the drama, dead mom, dead brother, pregnant semi-girlfriend by brother, dad against his tapping, and a cynical instructor. i enjoyed it very much and would watch it again if i were to see it on. I think the idea behind the movie was very original...very funny at times. I particularly enjoyed comments about "poofters" and "root".

Yes, I thought the dancing was awesome. Just a pity to have to sit through such a tedious and poorly thought-out non-story to enjoy those few minutes of it.Nothing fitted. Nothing added up. Sean set off from Newcastle to Sydney like he was going to the end of the world, when it's a journey he would do on his motorbike in well under the running time of the movie. He's landed a part performing in the chorus of a big dance show there - his big break towards stardom. Does his beloved Linda drive down in that fast sports car of hers to see him on opening night? No, she sits at home by the phone waiting for him to ring. Aaaaaaaaaaah! Sophie Lee as bimbo extraordinaire! Guess all she had to do was act naturally.But it was all part of a plot that was totally pathetic. Just not credible. Right from the start of the movie the horrid nasty baddy and his gang of thugs had been in an escalating crime war with Mitch as their sole adversary. And this ends with a scene on a high overhead gantry with the baddie drawing a vicious knife and trying to gut the unarmed Mitch like a fish. Yet he is apparently horrified, remorseful even, when Mitch falls to his death in trying to escape him. "Strictly Ballroom" wove a plot that had lots of elements of fantasy, but beautifully depicted them thus amidst the sequins and glitter. That was why it was able to succeed so very well as a dance movie with a story to tell and a tearjerker happy ending. "Bootmen" couldn't or wouldn't leave for single second the grim reality of its harsh meanstreets and decaying heavy industry backdrop, and asked us to accept strictly at face value a story that was just woefully full of holes. 1 point for the plot, 5 for the dancing. Total 6/10

I took tap for a good portion of my life and am very excited to see a movie showing the kind of tap that is really done. Not that hokey "putting on the ritz" type. And these dancers---- WOW! They made me want to get up and dance again. And there was a plot, too. A plot that did not get lost under the taps. A good movie with incredible dancing. See it just for the ending at least!