Ned Kelly

A film about the legendary outlaw whose story outgrew his life , it is based on the true events of famous 19th-century Outback bandit, an authentic legend which results to be the Australian's most ambiguous outlaw. A man (Heath Ledger) called Ned Kelly and his family are mistreated by Australians guards .He turns to steal horses that had been previously robbed to him . He gets deeply drawn into crime life and eventually becomes a policemen killer . Meanwhile , he falls in love of an unhappy married woman (Naomi Watts) . He forms an Irish band (Orlando Bloom) battling the British Empire but the oppressed people called them heroes and are relentlessly pursued by an astute , stubborn official (Geoffrey Rush, winner Oscar for Shine) . You can kill a man but not a legend. When the law tried to silence him a legend was born. The British Empire branded them as outlaws. The oppressed called them heroes.

The film is an Australian Western made completely by Aussies with action , drama , shootouts, a love story and a lot of violence. It's a pretty solid movie narrating the confrontation between the Irish rebels and the English forces and holds up very well. The essential of this picture is the outlaw hunt that results in a great load of gunplay and deaths. The movie benefits tremendously from Oliver Stapleton's (Casanova) frequently ravishing cinematography , although is sometimes dark , as film longtime is developed at night and interior scenarios. It contains a sensitive and rousing musical score by Klaus Badelt (K19 , Pirates of the Caribbean) .The motion picture was well pfotographed and competently directed by Gregor Jordan who dramatizes accurately the life of this famous outlaw and his henchmen. Before being adapted in an Australian version by Sterling (1960) and by Tony Richardson also titled Ned Kelly (1970) starred by Mick Jagger .

Based on the famous novel 'Our Sunshine', 'Ned Kelly' is a watchable film. The problem is the way the story is told. There have been quite a number of films based on heroic legends. Sadly, this one is no different and almost every moment of it is downright predictable.

The strength lies in the portrayal of the characters. Kelly and his gang are portrayed as human beings rather than the typical ruthless heroes suffering from affective flattening. On the other hand, the screenplay is so fast paced that one wonders whether Jordan really rushed through it as 'Ned Kelly' certainly would have benefited more if the script was better developed (e.g. Julia Cook could have used more scenes). As a result the film looks more like a brief summary of Kelly's life. We don't even see the trial and execution of Ned Kelly.

In the technical department, the cinematography, background score and beautiful locations deserve mention as they certainly add to the film's quality. There are some beautiful shots of the Australian landscape and the set design and few songs do give a feel of the time.

Heath Ledger is adequate in the title role but it is Orlando Bloom who steals the show. The guy seems to be in complete form (unlike his awkward presence in films like 'Kingdom of Heaven') and does full justice to the part. Naomi Watts shines in a small role. Geoffrey Rush deserved a better part but the actor nonetheless stands out. Most of the supporting cast do well. However, some of the villainous corrupt cops come across as caricatures.

Finally, Jordan's 'Ned Kelly' just doesn't do full justice in portraying Kelly's life. It ends up being a clichéd film and a mere summary of the legend. If one has nothing else to do, they might want to check 'Ned Kelly' out just to kill time but if one wants to learn about the legend, then this isn't the best source.

Gregor Jordan is going to be great. I have no idea when but he is heading places. Along with this I have only seen two other films he has directed which were Two Hands which was unreal to say the least and Buffalo Soldier which was bloody great and Ned Kelly.

When first seeing this I was excited more than I should have been because I was dying to see a new western, but I don't know whether you would call this a western as it is not set in the west like other American films, this is set in Australia telling the story of legendary outlaw Ned Kelly, a young man who never got on the right side of the law who was raised from an Irish family.

To make the film even better it is directed and starring an Australian. Heath Ledger is sporting an Irish accent in the film which is faultless.

The supporting cast is just as good with Orlando Bloom playing Kelly's best friend Steve along with Naomi Watt's as Kelly's love interest but I wouldn't even call her that as she's not even in it. Geoffrey Rush is not used as much as he should have been as the man chasing Kelly. You feel that Gregor Jordan had the key to the sweet shop in Ned Kelly but didn't take full advantage of it. Geoffrey Rush was only in key scenes but there wasn't much introduction to who he was and his interest in Kelly like in the end when he asks Kelly if he can keep an item of his and Kelly looks at him thinking `Why'. it would have been an interest to see what he really thought of him, he just acts under orders to capture him and that's it. Naomi Watts is the same. So much there but not taken.

As far as the story goes this is not such based on his biography but a novel written by Robert Drewe Called Our Sunshine which is a famous phrase that Ned Kelly's father called him. It's a strong story with terrific acting but the script wasn't long enough to make it into the epic it could have been. Sure enough there is plenty in the film to keep it's audience happy but it doesn't really give you the feel you are hoping for. It's goes down in the books of films that could have been so much more and even though this is still a very good film, it had the opportunity to be a masterpiece but if only the script was up to the task there would be a lot more people talking about this story.

Before viewing Ned Kelly, my only knowledge of this Australian outlaw was that he wore a bucket on his head. Having now seen this fairly enjoyable movie about his struggle for justice in the outback, I am a little bit more clued up; but I do have to ask how much fiction has replaced fact in this telling of the legend of Ned Kelly. Was he really so righteous, or have facts been changed to make the character more sympathetic and appealing to the audience?

Director Gregor Jordan works well with the questionably accurate script, getting good performances from his lead Heath Ledger, who impresses with his portrayal of a man fighting the system the only way he knows how. Also worthy of mention is Orlando Bloom as Ned's friend Joseph and Geoffrey Rush as top cop Francis Hare. Naomi Watts, however, is wasted as Ned's piece of posh totty in an unnecessary romantic sub-plot.

Whilst the movie never bores, it never really excels either, leaving this reviewer feeling rather apathetic towards it, hence my just-slightly-above-average rating of 6/10.

I walked into this movie expecting to see a legendary Australian folktale, turned into a piece of Hollywood fluff and to an extent that is what I got. However, even with the exaggerated soundtrack and the ficticious Naomi Watts character who had too large a part in the story this movie is not with out it's charms, the image of the Kelly gang in their iron suits facing an army of Victorian police at the Glenrowan Inn is an incredably striking one.

An important detail to note is that this is most definately NOT a documentary on Ned Kelly's life, this is a Hollywood film. However as a film it is incredably slanted to Ned's point of view, he is just way too good. Details of Ned's horse theivery (which he admitted to in the Jerilderie letter) where changed to make the Victorian police seem at fault. The Victorian police were made into the oppressors of the Kelly family and force Ned to a life as an outlaw in the bush.

Heath Ledger's portrayal of Ned Kelly is a fair one, he manages to depict Ned's anger at the authories rather well. Orlando Bloom's portrayal of the womanising Joe Byrne and Joel Edgerton's Aaron Sherrit, betrayer of the Kelly gang, were nowhere near Oscar worthy, but still good. Naomi Watt's character was unnecessary and seemed only added to provide a love interest for Ned.

Overall Ned Kelly is a generally good film. The acting is good, but the storyline leaves a lot to be desired, far too black and white for a film based on true events. However, the film does have it's moments, the final showdown at the Glenrowan Inn was a particulary well crafted scene. An interesting side note is that Dan Kelly's death in not actually shown, perhaps this was fuelled by the rumour that he did not perish in the Glenrowan siege but escaped and fled to a new life in Queensland.

6 of of 10