SPOILERS Each country and time has it's own legends. In the American West there are countless cowboys who broke the law yet who are revered. In England we have the fictional Robin Hood who represented the medieval times and the idea of taking from the rich and giving to the poor. In Australia, they have Ned Kelly. A figure stone of Australian history, Kelly is a tricky subject to handle. In 2003's adaptation of Robert Drewe's "Our Sunshine" though, director Gregor Jordan and actor Heath Ledger have created a solid and well constructed presentation of the legend.
Like so many Irish in the Australian colony, Ned Kelly (Ledger) and his family suffer from the bullying of the police. After stopping one of these drunken officers from hurting the family, Ned is declared an outlaw and goes on the run. Now, as an outlaw, with his brother Dan (Laurence Kinlan) and friends Joe Byrne (Orlando Bloom) and Steve Hart (Phil Barantini), Kelly's gang roam the Australian outback trying to get justice and the release of Kelly's imprisoned mother.
Based on such a tricky subject, "Ned Kelly" could easily have folded in on itself to become a hideous mess. It survived though and although not without flaws, it is a decent enough film to watch.
Perhaps the biggest reason for the film's final copy being good is that the main stars perform admirably. Sidestepping the 'play it by numbers' performance of Geoffrey Rush (an amazing actor who often gives the impression that he's not trying), the film is saved because both Heath Ledger and Orlando Bloom give the performances of their lifetimes (to present). Bloom in particular as Kelly's friend Byrne is a surprise. Not the finest actor by any stretch of the imagination, in fact he's often awful, Bloom is superb as the loyal Joe Byrne who stands by Kelly to the end and never gives in.
The film of "Ned Kelly" is obviously about the headline character though and as Kelly, Heath Ledger has come of age. Ledger has given some good performances over the years. His performance in "The Patriot" for example is the one saving grace in that otherwise abomination of a movie. It is as Ned Kelly however that Ledger has found his home. An Australian by birth, Ledger is rumoured to have been cast for the role because he was exactly the same height and shape as Kelly (he tried on Kelly's original armour), at times though through such superb acting, you wonder if he isn't actually the reincarnation of the character. Ledger is brilliant in the role and the actor might as well retire now because it's doubtful he will ever shake off the mantle of this character and will always be remembered as Kelly.
Aside from the acting and your general every day special effects, the most important thing about this film is it's script. Based on a novel by Robert Drewe, "Ned Kelly" is a brilliantly written film with entertaining moments and tension throughout. There are definite flaws with the script admittedly. The resolution of a few characters plots and the decision not to explore certain avenues, but in regard to the important characters of Kelly and his gang, the story covers all the right topics and leaves us happily satisfied. In fact, if there is one complaint, it is that the film doesn't finish with the traditional historical blurb of what happens to the surviving characters. Still, this is a minor flaw since so much of the film is so well made.
Ned Kelly is an important figure in Australia. Not known that well anywhere else, the character stands up for justice just like so many other major figures (real and fictional) have in world history. Made into a film, his story could so easily have been destroyed and badly made. Luckily however, the film of the outlaw is both well written and well acted. It's plot doesn't cover every potential angle, and there are definite flaws in the film over all, but for simple historical entertainment, you can't go far wrong with this.
Like so many Irish in the Australian colony, Ned Kelly (Ledger) and his family suffer from the bullying of the police. After stopping one of these drunken officers from hurting the family, Ned is declared an outlaw and goes on the run. Now, as an outlaw, with his brother Dan (Laurence Kinlan) and friends Joe Byrne (Orlando Bloom) and Steve Hart (Phil Barantini), Kelly's gang roam the Australian outback trying to get justice and the release of Kelly's imprisoned mother.
Based on such a tricky subject, "Ned Kelly" could easily have folded in on itself to become a hideous mess. It survived though and although not without flaws, it is a decent enough film to watch.
Perhaps the biggest reason for the film's final copy being good is that the main stars perform admirably. Sidestepping the 'play it by numbers' performance of Geoffrey Rush (an amazing actor who often gives the impression that he's not trying), the film is saved because both Heath Ledger and Orlando Bloom give the performances of their lifetimes (to present). Bloom in particular as Kelly's friend Byrne is a surprise. Not the finest actor by any stretch of the imagination, in fact he's often awful, Bloom is superb as the loyal Joe Byrne who stands by Kelly to the end and never gives in.
The film of "Ned Kelly" is obviously about the headline character though and as Kelly, Heath Ledger has come of age. Ledger has given some good performances over the years. His performance in "The Patriot" for example is the one saving grace in that otherwise abomination of a movie. It is as Ned Kelly however that Ledger has found his home. An Australian by birth, Ledger is rumoured to have been cast for the role because he was exactly the same height and shape as Kelly (he tried on Kelly's original armour), at times though through such superb acting, you wonder if he isn't actually the reincarnation of the character. Ledger is brilliant in the role and the actor might as well retire now because it's doubtful he will ever shake off the mantle of this character and will always be remembered as Kelly.
Aside from the acting and your general every day special effects, the most important thing about this film is it's script. Based on a novel by Robert Drewe, "Ned Kelly" is a brilliantly written film with entertaining moments and tension throughout. There are definite flaws with the script admittedly. The resolution of a few characters plots and the decision not to explore certain avenues, but in regard to the important characters of Kelly and his gang, the story covers all the right topics and leaves us happily satisfied. In fact, if there is one complaint, it is that the film doesn't finish with the traditional historical blurb of what happens to the surviving characters. Still, this is a minor flaw since so much of the film is so well made.
Ned Kelly is an important figure in Australia. Not known that well anywhere else, the character stands up for justice just like so many other major figures (real and fictional) have in world history. Made into a film, his story could so easily have been destroyed and badly made. Luckily however, the film of the outlaw is both well written and well acted. It's plot doesn't cover every potential angle, and there are definite flaws in the film over all, but for simple historical entertainment, you can't go far wrong with this.