Ned Kelly

Reviewed by:
Paul Ulane

Billy the Kid and the Marlboro Man have attained larger-than-life reputations over time and billboards, respectively. Now Ned Kelly confers upon Australia’s most storied gunslinger his own historically flawed tribute. Heath Ledger plays the misunderstood outlaw (someone needs to work on his Aussie accent) who forms a gang, including a first lieutenant played by Orlando Bloom, in order to avenge his mother’s wrongful imprisonment. The local heroes are forced to flee into the Outback when a gunfight with the authorities turns lethal. After more heads roll and a pair of banks are robbed, the country gets serious and sics an entire army (led by Geoffrey Rush) on the rogues, leaving only a scandalous affair with a wealthy English damsel (Naomi Watts) to bring Ned home. Kelly’s life was definitely movie material, but director Gregor Jordan’s mushy moments outmatch the film’s gunfights and underdog heroics. Motivational speeches may work on mighty cowboys in the land of the backward toilet flush, but we Americans like our 10-gallon legends drunk and dangerous.

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