The True History Of The Kelly Gang
At the beginning, this film claims through a short line of text that none of what we’ll see is true. It’s flowing through this statement and the conflicted views people still take on the legend of Ned Kelly, which makes this drama a tricky one to gauge.
Growing up in the bush with little to live on but grit in his belly is Ned Kelly; a child who learns to get through life the hard way. Later, as a grown adult (George MacKay) he grows tired of being downtrodden and fights back against the law, banding together a group of supporters which sees him step over a line of which he can’t return.
Beautiful swirls of terror and mesmerising talent surge in this telling of an Australian outlaw. It’s a film split into three parts and with Shaun Grant’s screenplay, Justin Kurzel directs a growing pool of darkness. Every new chapter in Ned’s life is one that sees him further over the edge; making decisions that set him as the iconic name we now know of.
Saying that, there’s a strong flaw that the film, even with its bells and whistles of acting splendour and brooding imagery, becomes one which could test the patience. It goes on too long and I admittedly felt myself switching off from the events on show. The storytelling seems to be unsure of which side to present Ned on.
The Aussie backdrop feels like a twisted fairytale; with nightmarish masculinity seeping into brothels, family and lacy dresses. There’s a strong sense of the world Ned resides within being off-kilter and this is elevated above and beyond through a climactic sequence; one that rattles the core in a visceral onslaught of unexpected imagery.
MacKay is on blistering form and if ‘1917’ didn’t prove his captivating skill then this will. There’s such intensity in his eyes and he moves in an animalistic manner which is both impressive and disturbing. Essie Davis is a sensational force as a mother with fire and spirit sick of how people view them.
‘The True History of the Kelly Gang’ certainly looks dramatic and there are ferocious performances, but you can’t shake away the feeling that there’s a disconnect between the eponymous Ned Kelly and what the director and writer wish to portray.
6.5/10
