Back home

Ned Kelly

382 votes

Producing House

After getting threatened by Kelly's friends and family, Constable Fitzpatrick places the blame on Ned Kelly and exaggerates what happened. With the biggest ever award available, Kelly and his gang set into the wild, to remain hidden from everyone who seeks them. Even if it means having his family arrested, the members of the Kelly Gang stay hidden and plan a way to get their names cleared.

movie

Status: Released

Released Date: 2003-03-22

Runtime: 110 mins

Director: Gregor Jordan

Spoken language: English

Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama, History

Original title: Ned Kelly

Production Companies: Woss Group Film Productions, StudioCanal, Endymion Films, WTA, Working Title Films, Australian Film Commission, Australian Film Finance Corporation

Production Countries: Australia, France, United Kingdom, United States of America

Reviews

G

Geronimo1967
It's always tough with a subject that suffers from Titanic Syndrome - there can be no jeopardy about the final outcome so it really does boil down to the quality of the writing and the acting as to whether or not we are going to bother to sit through it... Heath Ledger isn't bad at all in the title role, an Australian from Irish (and criminal) stock who falls foul once too often of the frequently corrupt police, takes matters into his own hands and with his brother Dan (Laurence Kinlan) and Orlando Bloom (Joseph Byrne), amongst others, turns into an Antipodean version of Robin Hood - determined to redress the pretty in-your-face imbalances of society in Victoria and New South Wales. Bloom's accent is straight out of "Finian's Rainbow" but Naomi Watts is good as Julia as is Kris McQuade as his mother Ellen. Geoffrey Rush is drafted in by the government to lead the chasing constabulary, but his usually dominant presence doesn't quite work here - he doesn't really have enough to do/say. Those really observant amongst us might spot Charles Tingwell (think "Inspector Craddock") towards the end, too. It's violent but not brutal - we are shown a side of Kelly that has been driven to the course of action and although he doesn't exactly hate it; he has scruples. The detail is good; we get a sense of the relative squalor in which they lived, and the writing and direction are taut and well paced. From what little I know of the man, and his gang, this isn't the most accurate depiction of his brief moment in the limelight, but on balance, it is worth sitting through...
2023-02-25

J

John Chard
It’s Regina versus us; The Kelly Gang. Ned Kelly is directed by Gregor Jordan and written by John Michael McDonagh (based on “Our Sunshine” written by Robert Drewe). It stars Heath Ledger, Orlando Bloom, Naomi Watts, Geoffrey Rush and Joel Edgerton. Music is by Klaus Badelt and cinematography by Oliver Stapleton. The Australian Robin Hood? Well not quite, but Ned Kelly’s name and exploits live on for ever more. As is often the case with film’s of this type, such as Braveheart, it’s best to approach them as interpretations of real events and people, than actual historical facts. The core basis of Ned Kelly the man is here, and the picture built around him is handsomely mounted. Also ripe with strong character portrayals by the key actors (fluctuating accents and dodgy beards aside) and shot through with enough lyrical smarts by Jordan, it’s a film big on atmosphere and authentic feel. However, obviously hamstrung by budget and running time etc, much of the story feels incomplete. There’s also the problem of under using Geoffrey Rush, who although playing a key character in the Kelly legend, is only on the periphery of things. Still, the evident problems can’t stop it from being an engaging piece of entertainment. It’s consistently beautiful to look at, Badelt’s mournful musical score is an absolute cracker and the action is well staged by the passionate Jordan. We are still waiting for the definitive Ned Kelly Gang movie, because although this is made with care of the source stories, it only scratches the surface of this most interesting period of Australian history. 7/10
2014-06-04

Recommendations

An Unscripted Earth
0

An Unscripted Earth

2020-04-24

Lawrence and Jaime were best friends in high school, but attend university on opposite sides of the

Záchvěv strachu
1.8

Záchvěv strachu

1984-04-01

Getting out of prison doesn't mean being free. After the bloody suppression of the Prague Revolution

The Steppe
2.9

The Steppe

1962-03-06

Based on a Anton Chekhov short story, this slight tale has some good moments as the drama of a young

Blade Runner
4

Blade Runner

1982-06-25

In the smog-choked dystopian Los Angeles of 2019, blade runner Rick Deckard is called out of retirem

Sven Tuuva the Hero
2.6

Sven Tuuva the Hero

1958-12-19

For six hundred years Sweden had controlled most of Finland until the war with Russia that ended in

Hot Pursuit
2.9

Hot Pursuit

2015-05-08

Straight-arrow policewoman Cooper is excited and thrilled about her next assignment. Her task is to

Beloved
2.9

Beloved

1998-10-16

After Paul D. finds his old slave friend Sethe in Ohio and moves in with her and her daughter Denver

Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy
3.1

Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy

2019-09-27

Gwalior Fort, during the Indian Rebellion of 1857. In a moment of despair, Lakshmibai, Rani of Jhans

A High Wind in Jamaica
3.1

A High Wind in Jamaica

1965-05-01

In 1870, a Jamaican colonial family sends its children to Britain for proper schooling, but their sh

Bran Nue Dae
2.7

Bran Nue Dae

2009-08-09

In the Summer of 1965 a young man is filled with the life of the idyllic old pearling port Broome -

Firelight
3.4

Firelight

1998-05-27

In 1838, lovely governess Elisabeth agrees to bear a child of anonymous English landowner, and he wi

Disraeli
0

Disraeli

1921-08-21

The story of British prime minister Benjamin Disraeli and the purchase by England of the Suez Canal.

Race 3
1.8

Race 3

2018-06-15

The Singh family comprises of Shamsher his step-son Sikandar, twins Suraj and Sanjana. They run a bu

Emotion Is Dead
4.5

Emotion Is Dead

2024-06-01

A teenage skateboarder suffering from a recent family tragedy comes up with a money-making scheme th

Gangstaz
0

Gangstaz

1996-01-01

All Billy Castro knows is the gang lifestyle. Along with his childhood buddy, Tyrone he rises to the

Ned Kelly
2.4

Ned Kelly

1970-06-10

Unable to support his family in the Australian outback, a man turns to stealing horses in order to m

Crimson Plains
0

Crimson Plains

2022-05-18

Two Aboriginal brothers are put in a hard situation by a miner who kills a man for gold. Based on r

10th & Wolf
2.9

10th & Wolf

2006-02-19

A former street thug returns to his Philadelphia home after a stint in the military. Back on his hom

Rapid Fire Romance
0

Rapid Fire Romance

1926-10-06

Former boxer Billy Sullivan as Tommy Oliver, a young fighter who joins a gang of crooks in order to

A Bittersweet Life
3.7

A Bittersweet Life

2005-04-01

Kim Sun-woo is an enforcer and manager for a hotel owned by a cold, calculative crime boss, Kang who