Ned Kelly (2003 film)

Ned Kelly
Company type	Film
Industry	Film industry
Founded	2003; 23 years ago
Headquarters	Australia
Products	Bushranger film
Website	web.archive.org/web/20030410140853/http://www.nedkellymovie.com/

Ned Kelly is a 2003 bushranger film adapted from Robert Drewe's 1991 novel Our Sunshine. Directed by Gregor Jordan, the screenplay adaptation was penned by John Michael McDonagh. The movie portrays the story of Ned Kelly, an infamous bushranger and outlaw primarily active in the colony of Victoria. Alongside his brother Dan and comrades—Steve Hart and Joe Byrne—Kelly forms a gang as a reaction to police brutality. The cast features Heath Ledger as Ned Kelly, with supporting roles played by Orlando Bloom, Naomi Watts, and Geoffrey Rush. The film garnered mixed critical reception and earned $6 million globally.

Plot

Ned Kelly is raised in the colony of Victoria as the son of an Irish immigrant, living with his widowed mother Ellen, brother Dan, and sisters Kate and Grace. His close friends Joe Byrne and Steve Hart frequently visit their household. At age 17, Ned is apprehended for stealing a white mare, although it was actually taken by their acquaintance Wild Wright.

Upon his release three years later, Ned assists with the family’s horse-breeding operation near Beechworth. Seeking retribution, he defeats Wild Wright in a bare-knuckle fight and develops a friendship with Julia Cook, the spouse of a wealthy landowner.

Tensions escalate when Constable Fitzpatrick harasses Ned’s sister Kate. Ned intervenes, prompting Fitzpatrick to retaliate by confiscating the Kelly family’s horses, which Ned and his associates subsequently recover. Later, Fitzpatrick attempts to arrest Dan under false pretenses; during the confrontation, Fitzpatrick is injured and wrongly accuses Ned of shooting him. This leads to the arrest of Ned’s mother.

Julia declines to testify on Ned’s behalf due to fear of social repercussions. As a result, Ned, Dan, Joe, and Steve become fugitives. After killing three officers in a shootout—despite Ned’s efforts to prevent fatalities—the "Kelly Gang" evades capture while hiding in the bush. Julia occasionally offers them shelter.

A bounty is placed on the gang, and a government proclamation authorizes anyone to shoot them on sight. They carry out bank robberies and destroy mortgage documents that burden selectors. Distributing stolen money to impoverished families, they earn folk hero status among Victorians, although the press portrays them as violent criminals.

The Colonial Government sends Superintendent Francis Hare to quell the unrest, arresting supporters including Joe’s childhood friend Aaron Sherritt. Aaron becomes an informant after police assure no harm will come to Joe. The gang feeds Aaron false information; when police movements confirm his betrayal, Joe kills him.

Ned devises a plan to trap Superintendent Hare by taking control of Glenrowan town. They gather locals at the Glenrowan Inn for protection and sabotage railroad tracks intending to derail Hare’s train. Donning homemade metal armour, they aim to capture Hare and exchange him for Ned’s mother.

The derailment attempt fails; police surround the inn. The gang fights using their armour but are forced back inside as police kill civilians during the gunfight. Ned makes a lone charge to buy time but is wounded and captured. Joe dies inside; Dan and Steve commit suicide once out of ammunition.

Severely wounded, Ned continues firing until he collapses. He is taken prisoner and transported back for trial. Despite 32,000 people petitioning for clemency, Ned Kelly is executed by hanging at Old Melbourne Gaol on 11 November 1880.

Production

Filming commenced on 29 April 2002, with the primary location being the Little River Earth Sanctuary at Mount Rothwell, situated near Geelong. Urban scenes were captured in Clunes and Ballarat, while other filming sites included Broadford, Glenfern House in St Kilda East, Hepburn Springs, and Melbourne.

Soundtrack

The album Ned Kelly – Music from the Motion Picture was issued by Decca Records on 6 April 2003. Created by composer Klaus Badelt, it features Bernard Fanning delivering the tracks "Shelter for My Soul" and "Moreton Bay".

Reception

Worldwide, the film earned $6,585,516, with $5,040,860 generated internationally and $86,959 from the U.S. market.

Reviews were varied. On Rotten Tomatoes, the movie holds a 55% approval rating and an average score of 5.6/10, described as a "moderately entertaining Western" that might have benefited from deeper exploration of the outlaw’s narrative. Metacritic assigned it a score of 56 out of 100.

Heath Ledger’s leading role received widespread acclaim; however, performances by Orlando Bloom and Geoffrey Rush were considered somewhat underused. BBC critic Nev Pierce rated it 3 out of 5 stars, praising its "notable action sequences" and labeling it "an engaging and watchable Western." FutureMovies.co.uk characterized the film as "adequate and mildly enjoyable," largely supported by Ledger’s strong acting.

Megan Spencer of ABC.net highlighted how the movie effectively utilized its $30 million budget through a capable international and local cast and crew, particularly lauding Ledger’s internal voiceover narration. Film Threat’s Clint Morris gave it 3.5 stars, commending the film’s action scenes, visual work, and Ledger’s immersive performance.

Nevertheless, some critiques focused on historical inaccuracies, including an overstated depiction of the Glenrowan conflict featuring excessive casualties and unrealistic elements such as a lion and monkey.

Awards and nominations

Award	Category	Recipient	Outcome
AACTA Award (2003 Australian Film Institute Awards)	Best Direction	Gregor Jordan	Template:Nom
	Best Adapted Screenplay	John Michael McDonagh	Template:Nom
	Best Actor	Heath Ledger	Template:Nom
	Best Supporting Actor	Orlando Bloom	Template:Nom
	Best Cinematography	Oliver Stapleton	Template:Nom
	Best Editing	Jon Gregory	Template:Nom
	Best Sound	Gary Wilkins	Template:Nom
		Colin Miller	Template:Nom
		Adrian Rhodes	Template:Nom
		Chris Burden	Template:Nom
	Best Production Design	Steven Jones-Evans	Template:Won
	Best Costume Design	Anna Borghazi	Template:Won

External links