Ned Kelly
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Movie Reviews of Ned Kelly
Movie Review: The Siege of Glenrowan and the last stand of Ned Kelly
Summary: 4 Stars
I learned from "Breaker Morant" and "Gallipoli" that the British had little regard for Australian soldiers so it was not surprising to learn from this 2003 version of the "Ned Kelly" story that the British Down Under treated the locals with similar disdain. When it turns out that the title character is also of Irish decent, well, that is just pouring it on when you cross reference all of the films in which the British make the Irish suffer. It is easy enough to explain to the casual viewer that Ned Kelly is the Australian equivalent of Jesse James, but that misses the point that Kelly was a much more popular figure in his land that James was (as witnessed at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney where dancers wearing Kelly's iron helmet with the slit, inspired by Sidney Nolan's Ned Kelly paintings) and that his ending was much more fascinating than that of the American outlaw.
The story of Ned Kelly as told in Gregor Jordan's film is fairly straightforward. Young Ned (Heath Ledger) is sent to prison for a crime that he did not commit, condemned by his ethnicity more than any facts, and when he emerges from prison the authorities continue to go after his family. Since he is being treated like an outlaw he decides to become one along with his brother, Dan (Laurence Kinlan), his best friend, Joe Byrne (Orlando Bloom), and another friend, Steve Hart (Phil Barantini). Superintendent Francis Hare (Geoffrey Rush) leads the police in the great effort to hunt Ned and the boys down, but the Kelly Gang is popular with the people and are able to ride free for a while.
Telling the dramatic story of Kelly's life is hampered by the fact that before his famous last stand at Glenrowan the most notable part of his criminal career was the Jerilderie Letter, a demand for justice written in Ned's own hand that detailed the way he and his family and friends had been treated by the authorities. This is reduced in the film to a chance to call public officials wombats and the like. Fortunately the Siege at Glenrown, which constitutes the final act of the film, is more accurate and more compelling, and provides the best reason for checking out this otherwise rather slow moving film.
With so many people gunning for him Kelly came up with the idea of fashioning bullet-proof armor that could protect them during their bank robberies. The gang also came up with a plan to stop a special train at Glenrowan, the area of their staunchest support, but Hare found out about the plan and was able to turn Glenrowan into a trap for Ned and his boys, as well as their supporters. The battle turned into a siege, with the armor of the Kelly Gang giving them a way of negating the number of armed police that were taking shots at them.
The depiction of what happened at Glenrowan is reasonably accurate and is dramatic enough that I can understand why the film does not go on to show either Kelly's trial or execution. Besides, Jordan has a final ironic touch that he can play with regards to a bloody sash. The armor worn by the Kelly Gang at Glenrowan is on display at various places around Australia and one of the nice touches of the film is how it shows it providing protection, for the most part, but hampering the efforts of the boys to actually aim and shoot their own guns with any degree of accuracy. The armor weighed almost 100 pounds and while it could indeed stoop a Martini-Henry bullet at ten paces there were the practical problems of having extra horses to carry it around, the time it took to put it on, and the ways in changed everything from walking to shooting.
I underscore the historical accuracy of the Kelly Gang armor because those not well versed in Australian folk history, which is pretty much your entire American audience, might think that this is far fetched. But you can imagine how the idea of such armor would appeal to four men being hounded by an army of police, so that becoming the "iron outlaws" seemed as good a tactic as any to try and change things to give them more of a fighting chance. The story outweighs the acting and everyone from Ledger and Rush to the supporting cast give the appearance of playing parts in a pageant, which, from the Australian perspective, would most decidedly seem to be the case. I dare say that female fans of Ledger and Bloom, in particular, are going to be rather surprised by the history lesson they receive here.
Movie Review: Injustice Mushrooms
Summary: 4 Stars
Gregor Jordan's version of "Ned Kelly" may not be quite as playful as the 1970 Mick Jagger version, but it is a well-done recounting of this Australian legend. Jordan packs the cast with Australian actors who deliver. Australian Heath Ledger delivers a controlled performance that shows great force. Ned Kelly shows a different side of Ledger than we've seen in "10 Things I Hate About You," "A Knight's Tale" or "Monster's Ball." It may come closest to the tightly wound performance he offered in "The Order." Ledger also starred in Gregor Jordan's first film in 1999, "Two Hands," which I have yet to see; so this is their second teaming.
Orlando Bloom does a great job as Kelly's good friend and sidekick. Quite different than "Pirates of the Caribbean," we get to see a Bloom who is a Romeo, constantly hitting on girls with a twinkle in his eye. Most hilarious is his scene with Australian Brenda Griffiths as the bank president's wife where he seduces her a floor above where her spectacled husband sits under gun. Griffiths' Oscar nomination in 1998 for "Hillary & Jackie" and her starring role on HBO's series "6 Feet Under" have made her face familiar; and she has great fun here with Orlando.
Naomi Watts who was born in Great Britain but raised in Australia doesn't have a demanding role as the wife of the horse owner. She seduces Ned Kelly in the stable. For her, this is no "21 Grams," "Mullholland Drive" or "The Ring," but she does what is required in admirable fashion.
The supporting actors also do nice jobs. Laurence Kinlan as brother Dan Kelly has only one other acting credit, "Intermission" with Colin Farrell. Philip Baratini who plays the other gang member Steve Hart does a good job, and is a newcomer. Australian Oscar winning actor Geoffrey Rush (Shine) does a nice job with some emotional levels as the British soldier who chases the Kelly gang. Particularly touching is when he asks for Kelly's sash at the end of the film. Kerry Condon as Ned's sister Kate does a good job of living it up in the pub & then putting off the British soldier who is pursuing her. It will be interesting to see her star in 2005 with Jet Li, Morgan Freeman & Bob Hoskins in "Unleashed." Kiri Paramore as the policeman Fitzpatrick who has an eye for Kate does an appropriately repulsive job of hitting on Ned's sister.
The pacing of the film is excellent; there are no dead spots. We see the action of the film mushroom as the injustice of British rule as applied to the Irish in Australia is made. The cinematography is excellent; and the battle scene is well photographed. The DVD bonus features are interesting. Ledger does bear a resemblance to the original Ned Kelly. It was interesting to see clips from the early Ned Kelly films and from Mick Jagger's 1970 effort. This is a good film, ably acted & directed. Enjoy!
Movie Review: The Absolute Corruption of Absolute Power
Summary: 4 Stars
On its face, this 2004 version of the Ned Kelly story is an old-fashioned western shoot 'em up, albeit played out in the "wild west" of Victorian era Australia. In fact, I found that to be part of this film's appeal, in that it provides a rare and entertaining look at how similar life was "over there" at that time to those most of us have seen a million times in tales of the American west.
That said, Director Gregor Jordan's Kelly tale is also an allegory demonstrating again how easily a government with absolute authority and no valid system of checks and balances can be used maliciously and abusively by a corrupt few. Given the abuses of power by members of today's American government, with a corrupt core even working to override and ignore the checks and balances supposedly assured by our system, it's a good reminder of what can happen to any individual -- especially someone of unpopular origin -- when circumstances are less than perfect, as they often are.
As to the accuracy of the film's storyline, good luck determining that. While it seems to be reasonably accurate, if romanticized to accent Kelly's folk appeal, at this point it's hard to say who was right, who was wrong, and to what degree. Then again, that's a great reason to buy this DVD - it includes a Special Feature about the real Ned Kelly for more perspective on the now century-and-a-half debate over whether he was just a rowdy criminal or a Robin Hood revolutionary standing up for the common man. Probably a little of both.
At the very least, the film is well acted both by its primaries - Heath Ledger, Orlando Bloom, Naomi Watts, and Geoffrey Rush - and the many terrific Australian character actors in support roles. Nicely done all around.
Movie Review: A Western from the Outback
Summary: 4 Stars
Tones of brown pervade this somewhat dark film based on an Australian 'hero' Ned Kelly, a lad who was true to his immigrant Irish family roots to the point of becoming an outlaw in their defense. Director Gregor Jordan (BUFFALO SOLDIERS) has gathered a cast of Aussies and has managed to find the kind heart of the legend of Kelly and his band. Heath Ledger sustains a fine performance as Ned, and his gang of friends and family include Orlando Bloom, Lawrence Kinlan and Phil Baratini - all capable actors who make their characters credible and yes, lovable. Naomi Watts and Rachel Griffiths lend scenic decor and not much else and Geoffrey Rush replays his 'Jauvert'-type character with his usual authority. The camera work and set design is atmospheric and aptly/oddly claustrophobic in the vastness of Australia. The music score is particularly fine, mixing fine Irish melodies with original orchestral writing. While not a great film, there is enough of the still desperate need to find heroes in our midst to make this a movie most folk will savor. Bears watching.Movie Review: Worthwhile, shoot-em-up with engaging story.....
Summary: 4 Stars
This was an interesting film staring the up & coming star Heath Ledger as Ned Kelly. Beautifully filmed in Australia with an
equally adventurous film score "Ned Kelly" kept me glued to this
shoot-em-up mid to late 1800's story line about this Irish family and
what they were forced to put up with(bad cops) and a tight
fight em to the end bunch of family & friends. Namoi Watts also has a
small role as Ledger's love iterest and is as usual, compelling.
Orlando Bloom & Geoffrey Rush are excellent here as well, all the cast do a great
job mastering their accents and dialogue. Not a blockbuster
but an interesting period film I would recommend, has a nice
moral story going on, as well as the bank robbing and their
will to live through all this, Ledger makes this film a winner.