Ned Kelly (2003)

Heath Ledger plays Ned Kelly, the notorious bushranger whose gang wages war against the authorities in 19th century Australia.

Growing up poor, he learns a mistrust for “coppers” early in life because of his father’s problems with the law.

Then he winds up falsely accused of stealing a horse and is thrown in prison himself.

After serving his sentence, he returns home and dedicates himself to helping build up the family farm.

But problems with the “coppers” persist, specifically with one named Fitzpatrick, who’s smitten with his younger sister Kate.

One night, Ned’s younger brother Dan chases Fitzpatrick off the Kelly property by firing the copper’s own gun at his feet.

The next thing you know, there’s a warrant out for Ned for attempted murder, even though he wasn’t present at the time.

And when the authorities can’t snag Ned, they arrest his mother and begin taking out their frustration on his friends and neighbors.

Ned, younger brother Dan, and friends Joe Byrne (Orlando Bloom) and Steve Hart strike back.

When they continue to prove too elusive to be caught, Superintendent Francis Hare (Goeffrey Rush) is brought in to dispense justice.

And the price on Ned’s head keeps rising, increasing the likelihood that one of his allies will be tempted by the bounty.

So Ned plots a showdown in Glenrowan, planning to derail a police train, then descend on the survivors with his gang wearing newly fashioned metal armor.

Heath Ledger as Ned Kelly, contemplating his next move in Ned Kelly (2003)

Orlando Bloom as Joe Byrne, Ned Kelly’s longtime friend and fellow scoundrel in Ned Kelly (2003)

Review:

A relatively entertaining version of the Ned Kelly story, one that certainly sympathizes with the outlaw.

It might be more believable if Heath Ledger’s Ned Kelly weren’t quite so eloquent. Or if the final showdown stayed truer to history.

For a romantic subplot, we have Ned falling for Julia Cook (Naomi Watts), wife of a well-off neighboring property owner.

In fact, they’re together on the very night Fitzpatrick visits the Kelly homestead and harasses young Kate.

That means Julia has the ability to clear Ned’s name. But doing so would disgrace her own and probably result in her separation from her two young children.

Naomi Watts as Julia Cook, asking Ned Kelly to hold her stallion’s ‘thing’ in Ned Kelly (2003)

Goeffrey Rush as Superintendent Francis Hare, the man brought in to capture Ned Kelly in Ned Kelly (2003)

Directed by:
Gregor Jordan

Cast:
Heath Ledger … Ned Kelly
Orlando Bloom … Joe Byrne
Goeffrey Rush … Superintendent Francis Hare
Naomi Watts … Julia Cook
Joel Edgerton … Aaron Sheriff
Laurence Kinlan … Dan Kelly
Philip Barantini … Steve Hart
Kerry Condon … Kate Kelly
Kris McQuade … Ellen Kelly
Emily Browning … Grace Kelly
Ericka Felton … young Ellen
Kiri Paramore … Constable Fitzpatrick
Rachel Griffiths … Susan Scott
Geoff Morrell … Robert Scott
Charles Tingwell … Premier Graham Berry
Andrew Formosa … Park Ranger
Saskia Burmeister … Jane Jones
Talia Zucker … Sarah Wicks
Jonathan Hardy … The Great Orlando

Runtime: 110 min.

Laurence Kinlan as Dan Kelly, Ned’s brother, putting Fitzpatrick in his place in Ned Kelly (2003)

Philip Barantini as Steve Hart, ready to don armor as part of the Kelly Gang in Ned Kelly (2003)

Memorable lines:

Ned Kelly, recalling the time he saved someone from drowning as a boy: “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.”

Ned Kelly: “Where’s your husband?”
Julia Cook: “Out looking for you. Like the rest of the country.”

Dan Kelly: “You suppose God will forgive us for what we’ve done, Ned?”
Ned Kelly: “I don’t know. I suppose we’re gonna find out. One day.”

Kiri Paramore as Constable Fitzpatrick, the ‘copper’ smitten with Ned’s younger sister Kate in Ned Kelly (2003)

Joel Edgerton as Aaron Sheriff, turning down an offer to scout for the Kelly Gang in Ned Kelly (2003)

Julia Cook, trying to reason with Ned Kelly and encouraging him to flee the county: “What will it take for you to save yourself.”

Julia Cook: “Don’t make me grieve for you.”
Ned Kelly: “I ain’t dead yet.”

Ned Kelly, preparing for a showdown with the “coppers”: “They say the problem with the Irish is that they rely too much on dreams and not enough on gunpowder. Whereas the English are shy on dreams, as usual, but have plenty of the other. Now we had plenty of both.”

The Great Orlando, watching the Ned Kelly gang suit up: “Knights in shining armor!”

Kerry Condon as Kate Kelly, Ned’s sister, fending off the advances of Fitzpatrick in Ned Kelly (2003)

Kris McQuade as Ellen Kelly, fearful of the affect the encounter with Fitzpatrick will have on her family in Ned Kelly (2003)

Heath Ledger as Ned Kelly, testing out armor he plans to use in an upcoming battle with the coppers in Ned Kelly (2003)

Naomi Watts as Julia Cook, a married woman about to cross a forbidden line in Ned Kelly (2003)

Heath Ledger as Ned Kelly, confronting mistress Julia Cook about her intentions in Ned Kelly (2003)

Heath Ledger as Ned Kelly reviewing the state of affairs with friend Joe Byrne (Orlando Bloom) after being released from prison in Ned Kelly (2003)