SYNOPSIS:
In
the latter part of the 19th century, Australia is still largely
untamed. The former penal colony's first-generation Irish
immigrant population lives in poverty. Having already experienced
police brutality and the death of his father, bushranger Ned
(Heath Ledger) is wrongfully imprisoned on the trumped-up
charge of stealing a horse.
Emerging
a few years later, in 1874, Ned is hardened but vows to stay
straight. Rejoining his widowed mother and younger siblings,
he makes money for his family as a champion bare-knuckle boxer.
He also toils as a farmhand on the estate of an English landowner
- with whose beautiful wife Julia (Naomi Watts) Ned shares
a mutual attraction.
But the
British colonial system and its Victorian English enforcers
remain prejudiced against Australia's working people, and
the struggling Kelly family is no exception. When, in 1878,
a bullying police officer is rebuffed by Ned's younger sister
Kate and targets the family for harassment, Ned and his mother
are unjustly charged with attempted murder.
Ned is
determined to avenge his family's name and strike back against
his people's oppressors. While hiding in the bush, he forms
a loyal Gang that includes his best friend and first lieutenant
Joe Byrne (Orlando Bloom). A chance encounter with the police
culminates in shots ringing out, and three officers are killed.
The Kelly Gang is forced to go on the run. They blaze a trail
through the Outback, robbing banks to fund themselves as well
as to recover immigrants' land deeds, and giving police the
runaround. The Kelly Gang's reputation as invincible outlaws
grows, as does nationwide support from their immigrant countrymen.
To
the masses, Ned is a hero. To lawmen and the establishment,
he is the most wanted man in Australia. £8,000 is offered
for his capture - at the time, the highest reward the world
had known. When the authorities bring in the formidable Superintendent
Francis Hare (Geoffrey Rush), and an army of police, with
carte blanche to capture and/or kill the outlaws, Ned strategizes
a risky showdown at the Glenrowan Inn. It is this event which
will seal his fate - and his legend.
MOVIE REVIEW:
A great cast with powerful performances which is based on
a story “Our Sunshine” by Robert Drewe, it is
an inspirational and real-life story of seeking justice in
a biased and corrupted society. This is not the first time
the director, Gregor Jordan works with Ledger – they
worked before in Jordan’s first film, Two Hands. Obviously
they had collaborated well, as Jordan is able to bring out
a fantastic portrayal of Ned from Ledger.
Already
been brutally bullied by local police and the death of his
father, Ned Kelly (Heath Ledger – A Knight’s Tale)
was being wrongly imprisoned of stealing a horse and beating
up a cop. After his release, the local authorities were constantly
watching him as if hoping misfortune befalls on him again.
In British colonial system where the law enforcers were prejudiced
against the Australians, a jerky policeman was eyeing the
affections of Ned’s younger sister, Kate (Kerry Condon)
who rebuffed the guy. In return, the cop stirred trouble for
the family, causing Ned Kelly and his mother to be implicated,
charging them with attempted murder.
Ned
Kelly, a victim of circumstances was forced into being an
outlaw after seeing injustice being paid to his family. He
and his gang went into hiding and planned to fight back injustice
in the current system. His gang includes his best friend,
Joe (Orlando Bloom) and Dan (Laurence Kinlan) where together
they fight against corrupted authorities oppressing the people.
Not forgetting his lover, Naomi Watts, a married woman whom
both of them has mutual liking for each other. Naomi Watts’
fans might be in for a disappointment as there are little
of her on the screen.
Overnight,
people regard them as legendary heroes as they robbed the
banks to help the needy. Soon he and his gang gains popularity
and diehard support, with the Chief of Police, Francis Hare
(Geoffrey Rush) hot on his trail. Ned Kelly was considered
the most notorious wanted man in Australia to the lawmen.
Eventually a showdown between Hare and Kelly changed his fate
and so his legend is born.
Well
I find that they are a courageous bunch who believe in what
they do is right although they do it on the wrong side of
the law. I actually envy them for their courage in unmoved
faith. They are portrayed as modern Robin Hoods where they
rob the rich to help the poor. There are a few scenes that
my heart gave it out to them and felt that life is so unfair
to them.
Although
it is a typical story of a innocent man being jailed and get
hassled by police, forced back to crimes in a glaze of fury
and eventually captured and punished, I enjoyed it thoroughly.
I even watched it twice, unable to resist the charming and
emotional performances by Bloom and Ledger.
MOVIE RATING:
Review
by Angeline Ng
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