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Ned Kelly
Focus Features


6.3

based on 16 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 8 votes
Read user comments
Rate this movie

FILM:

Buffalo Soldiers

MPAA RATING: R for violence and brief nudity

Starring Heath Ledger, Orlando Bloom, Geoffrey Rush, Naomi Watts, Joel Edgerton, Laurence Kinlan, Phil Barantini, and Rachel Griffiths

Based on the book by Roberts Drewe, this is the story of Australian gunslinger and outlaw, Ned Kelly and his Kelly Gang, famous for their many robberies from 1878-1880.

GENRE(S):	Drama
WRITTEN BY:	John M. McDonagh Robert Drewe (novel)
DIRECTED BY:	Gregor Jordan
RELEASE DATE:	DVD: July 27, 2004 Video: July 27, 2004 Theatrical: March 26, 2004
RUNNING TIME:	110 minutes, Color
ORIGIN:	Australia / UK / France

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

The Hollywood Reporter Erin Free

Expertly combining the personal and the epic, Jordan has crafted an excellent historical saga that doesn't collapse under the weight of too much history.

Variety David Stratton

An impressively staged, dark-toned revisiting of the life and times of Australia's boldest and most charismatic outlaw.

Village Voice Jessica Winter

The film marks a welcome departure from the usual rah-rah machismo of the semi-nationalist action adventure, but Jordan never escapes the mighty shadow of "The Thin Red Line"--from the grace-note inserts of exotic birds, snakes, and foliage to Ledger's laconic, sometimes haiku-like voice-over to Klaus Badelt's embarrassingly Zimmer-derivative score.

Dallas Observer Jean Oppenheimer

Despite the idealized portrait of Kelly and the very predictable plot, the film proves engaging, thanks in large measure to Ledger's sympathetic and believable performance.

Film Threat Clint Morris

It’s an exciting movie filled with plenty of action, adventure, beautiful cinematography and best of all, terrific performances.

Entertainment Weekly Lisa Schwarzbaum

A boggy mix of fact, fiction, and changeable wigs and beards worn by Heath Ledger in the title role, manages to shrink the grandness of the myth without clarifying our understanding of the man.

New York Daily News Jack Mathews

The result is a handsome, action-packed biographical drama with a credibility gap wider than the screen.

TV Guide Maitland McDonagh

The wholly invented character of unattainable love interest Julia Cook (the real Kelly once referred to an enigmatic "Julia" in a letter) is the film's weakest link and smacks of a desperate attempt to shoehorn a pretty woman into a story about grubby men with tangled beards.

The New York Times Dana Stevens

The storytelling is choppy and abrupt, and the filmmakers rely heavily on voice-over narration to announce themes that are never brought to dramatic life on screen. Mr. Ledger, his heartthrob charisma camouflaged behind a heavy beard, gives a stiff, hesitant performance.

Christian Science Monitor David Sterritt

The cast works hard, but Jordan's directing is too ponderous and slow to build dramatic energy.

Los Angeles Times Kevin Thomas

Since Ned Kelly -- which is not terrible, just too often dull -- has a no-expense-spared feel to it, this Focus Features release can be regarded only as an opportunity missed.

LA Weekly Scott Foundas

The whole movie is curiously distant and flat, like a museum object encased in extra-thick glass.

USA Today Mike Clark

The movie, which has a rusty photographic veneer, is monotonous and drags toward the end.

San Francisco Chronicle Mick LaSalle

There's something in Ned Kelly' that's lost in the translation from Australia to America, and the overly emotional film score is just a symptom.

Boston Globe Janice Page

Ultimately, Jordan's vision is so murky that Ned Kelly remains as foreign to us as wombat stew.

New York Post Lou Lumenick

A leaden retelling of the legend of Australia's Jesse James that has understandably been sitting on the shelf for a couple of years.

The average user rating for this movie is 6.3 (out of 10) based on 8 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Steve K. gave it an8:
Expect nothing, get much. This is a good movie, worth a rent, especially if you never heard of it and just stumble upon it at a video store like I did. But one thing, isn't Geoffrey Rush getting a tad bit typecast? I swear he's played the same guy in every movie since Shine.

Julia gave it a9:
Fabulous movie, Heath Ledger played an amazing role, and it brought out the sorrow and struggle.

Hillary M. gave it a9:
I thought this was a great movie. Heath Ledger did an awesome job, and fit the real portrayal of Ned Kelly. The movie had a great polt, to tell the real story of Ned Kelly and the kind of person that he really was. The tormented life that the Kelly's lived, thanks to the Victorian Police. I thought the movie was well constructed, Jordan did a fabulous job. I think Heath Ledger did an extremely well acting job and he gets two thumbs up!

Katherine G. gave it a 0:
This movie was absolutely the worst movie I've ever seen. I actually am excited to see it again just because I cannot comprehend what went so wrong with this craptastic piece of nothing.

Greg gave it a 4:
Having recently read the book "A Short Life" by Ian Jones, it was not a good idea to watch this movie expecting it to be 100% historically accurate based on the facts and probable events presented in his book. It's a movie for entertainment's sake, and fair enough, but even so I had trouble finding it as such.

Greg T. gave it a 6:
This movie was very slow in spots and could have maintained a greater momentum due to editing. It did have however have a certain appeal as Ned Kelly was portrayed as an 1870's Robin Hood, which may or may not be entirely true. Worth renting if you are seeking a hero of dubious origin.

Ned Kelly Focus Features

Ned Kelly
Focus Features