 Movie
Reviews
with Evelyn Gough
Ned Kelly
Directed by Gregor Jordan
Whether you consider Ned Kelly a hero and an Australian icon or just a plain criminal and cop killer is a matter of personal opinion.
In this film version based on the novel Our Sunshine by Robert Drew and directed by Gregor (Two Hands) Jordan, the bushranger is portrayed in a very sympathetic light. Ned and his gang members come across as likeable young rouges persecuted and driven to a life of crime by a corrupt police force.
Certainly the final dramatic shoot out at Glenrowan when the four, dressed in their homemade armour, took on 200 police is the stuff legends are made of.
 Heath Ledger as Ned Kelly
But don't you hate it when you know how a movie is going to end? Especially when the film is based on a true story and there's no escaping the fact that no one is going to be galloping into the sunset to live happily ever after.
Oh well, such is life, as somebody famous once said. Not that that has stopped the makers of this latest version of Ned Kelly from adding a few embellishments of their own, mind you still, what's a little fabrication amongst friends when it comes to attracting all those female fans of the dashing star Heath Ledger (eat your heart out Mick Jagger). What they want to see is Heath getting down and dirty on screen with real-life squeeze Naomi Watts, who plays the completely fictional character Julia Cook, wife of a wealthy landowner.
According to the producers, what they didn't want you to see was facial hair! To shave or not to shave, that was the question. So they compromised and Heath got to show off his rugged jawline for a brief shagging moment before galloping off, beard and all, to form the infamous Kelly gang.
Aside from Ned, the other members included Joe Byrne (Lord of the Rings star Orlando Bloom), Dan Kelly (Lawrence Kinlan) and Steve Hart (Phil Barantini). While too depressing to be my idea of a good time (a sign of a job well done when the characters really get under your skin), there's no doubt Gregor Jordan's Ned Kelly is a quality production with impressive performances form all concerned. Amongst the smorgasbord of Aussie talent is Geoffrey Rush as Superintendent Hare, Joel Edgerton as Aaron Sherrit and Peter Phelps as Constable Thomas Lonigan. And don't blink or you'll miss a hilarious appearance by Rachel Griffiths. It's dark, moody and full of passion, so why not take a ride with the Kelly Gang.
PS. I'd like to say a big thank you to all the staff at the Base Hospital and especially to Dr Josh Hanson and all my friends in ICU.
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