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Title: Ned Kelly (2003)
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| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Heath Ledger | ... | Ned Kelly | |
| Orlando Bloom | ... | Joseph Byrne | |
| Geoffrey Rush | ... | Superintendent Francis Hare | |
| Naomi Watts | ... | Julia Cook | |
| Joel Edgerton | ... | Aaron Sherritt | |
| Laurence Kinlan | ... | Dan Kelly | |
| Philip Barantini | ... | Steve Hart | |
| Kerry Condon | ... | Kate Kelly | |
| Kris McQuade | ... | Ellen Kelly | |
| Emily Browning | ... | Grace Kelly | |
 |
Kiri Paramore | ... | Constable Fitzpatrick |
| Rachel Griffiths | ... | Susan Scott | |
| Geoff Morrell | ... | Robert Scott | |
| Charles 'Bud' Tingwell | ... | Premier Graham Berry | |
|
|
Saskia Burmeister | ... | Jane Jones |
Though recognized for heroism as a lad, Ned Kelly can not escape the stigma of being the eldest of a brood sired by a known criminal. In days when an arrest equaled guilt and a conviction, his unfair imprisonment for horse thievery puts him steadfast, in the eyes of Victorian police, on the wrong side of things for life. With a sister unable to dissuade the unwanted advances of Constable Fitzpatrick, Ned, his brother Dan, and friends Joe Byrne and Steve Hart soon find themselves labeled "an outlaw gang" by the less-than-honorable constable. It's a designation they're apt to live up to after Ned's mother is unfairly arrested and sentenced to three years hard labor. In retaliation, the Kelly Gang strikes out against the oppressive Victorian government, with ultimately tragic results and passage into Australian folklore. Written by statmanjeff
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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.