Ned Kelly (2003)

An innocent man becomes one of the most wanted criminals the world has ever known.

Director:

Gregor Jordan

Writers:

Robert Drewe (novel), John Michael McDonagh (screenplay)

Stars:

Heath Ledger, Orlando Bloom, Geoffrey Rush

3 wins & 14 nominations.

Cast

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

Storyline

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.

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Plot Keywords:

character name as title | ned kelly character | psychotronic film | revisionist western | aussie western | 

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Taglines:

You can kill a man but not a legend.

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Biography | Crime | History | Romance | Western

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence and brief nudity

Did You Know?

Trivia

Charles 'Bud' Tingwell: Victorian Premier Graham Berry. Tingwell narrated The Glenrowan Affair (1951), Ned Kelly in Popular Culture (2003) (which appears as a special feature on the DVD release of this film) and Picture Pond Media's The Story of Ned Kelly (2002). He also provided the introduction to the audiobook version of Ian Jones' Ned Kelly: A Short Life.

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Goofs

The bank that is robbed has "State Savings Bank" on the windows. Before federation in 1901, Australian states were officially independent colonies within the British Empire (ex. Colony of New South Wales). The bank in question was Bank of New South Wales, in Jerilderie, NSW. That name would have been on the windows.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Ned Kelly: I was the hero of Hughes Creek. I can still see the glint in me Da's eye as he looked down at me, his hand on me shoulder. What did he call me that day? Ah, what did Da call me? That's right. He called me Sunshine.

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: The Ladykillers/Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed/Hellboy/Ned Kelly/Dogville (2004)

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Soundtracks

Moreton Bay
(Traditional)
Arranged by Bernard Fanning and Claire Jordan
Performed by Bernard Fanning
Courtesy of Universal Music Australia

User Reviews

Merely a brief summary of the legend

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.

Details

Country:

Australia UK USA France

Language:

Cantonese English

Release Date:

26 March 2004 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ned Kelly

Filming Locations:

Fraser Street, Clunes, Victoria, Australia

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$43,704, 28 March 2004

Gross USA:

$86,959

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$6,585,516

Company Credits

Production Co:

Australian Film Finance Corporation (AFFC), Endymion Films, StudioCanal

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Cinevex)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1