By Nadia Ranaputri
 |
| Image source: IMDB |
Director: Justin Kurzel
Cast: George MacKay, Essie Davis, Nicholas Hoult, Russell Crowe, Charlie Hunham, Thomasin Mackenzie, Earl Cave.
“Nothing you are about to see is true.” That is one of the very first lines of the film, and based on how the film plays out, it's an interesting way of setting the stage for a whole new interpretation of the infamous Australian outlaw, and it's quite ironic, almost like a cheeky little nudge on its own title. I remember watching Justin Kurzel's take on Macbeth whilst
also reading Shakespeare's original play for class and being in awe the
film's visual flair and how it almost feels like an entirely new take
on a story that has been adapted several times. At that point, I was interested to see more from him as a director. Similar to that of Kurzel's previous films, namely Snowtown and Macbeth, The True History of the Kelly Gang delves into the story of a riveting figure with a new perspective on it, and this time, it's on a notorious figure who fought at the end of the line with an iron suit.
Based on the 2001 novel of the same name by Peter Carey, The True History of the Kelly Gang begins with a young Ned Kelly (Orlando Schwerdt) as he is given away by his mother Ellen (Essie Davis) to a bushranger in favor of his safety when his father dies. Through his newfound mentor, Ned learns things the hard way, forging him into the ruthless outlaw with a strong desire for revenge. Because of the way he was taught, Ned (played as an adult by George MacKay) eventually grows to be a man built on survival and raw vengeance. As he witnesses the injustice being done to him and his family, Ned assembles a gang of his own with his fellow brother Dan (Earl Cave) and many others, leading to several anarchist operations against the police force, cementing his status as an infamous historical figure in Australia.
Fresh from the trenches of 1917, George MacKay continuously excels in his performance as Ned Kelly. Far from the bearded outlaw previously portrayed by Mick Jagger and Heath Ledger respectively, this version of Ned Kelly lacks such physical trait, opting for a mullet instead. It's a vast stretch from the reluctant hero of Sam Mendes' World War I epic, but it further proves MacKay's versatility, jumping from one drastically different role to the other. As Mark Kermode puts it in his review of Kelly Gang : "George MacKay is one of those actors who it is possible to see in four different films and not realize you are watching the same actor." MacKay is a powerhouse in this role, balancing between outlandish, savage, yet inexperienced outlaw. He threatens those that get in his way, but it isn't because he knows that his way of action is justified, it's because he was taught that way as a child, having been betrayed and exploited by several figures throughout his life. He presents himself as a force to be reckoned with, but is caught speechless when someone proves him otherwise, even being told that he's nothing but a merely clueless boy. Aside from MacKay, Essie Davis is also a standout as Kelly's mother, painting a fine line between a broken yet rigid woman who is willing to do anything in exchange for her family's safety. Russel Crowe also makes quite the lasting impression as Kelly's caretaker during his younger days, setting the film up in a strong and promising way. Nicholas Hoult, Thomasin Mackenzie, and Earl Cave also add solid performances to their respective characters, including Orlando Schwerdt as the young Ned Kelly; ranging from chaotic to innocent.
Fresh from the trenches of 1917, George MacKay continuously excels in his performance as Ned Kelly. Far from the bearded outlaw previously portrayed by Mick Jagger and Heath Ledger respectively, this version of Ned Kelly lacks such physical trait, opting for a mullet instead. It's a vast stretch from the reluctant hero of Sam Mendes' World War I epic, but it further proves MacKay's versatility, jumping from one drastically different role to the other. As Mark Kermode puts it in his review of Kelly Gang : "George MacKay is one of those actors who it is possible to see in four different films and not realize you are watching the same actor." MacKay is a powerhouse in this role, balancing between outlandish, savage, yet inexperienced outlaw. He threatens those that get in his way, but it isn't because he knows that his way of action is justified, it's because he was taught that way as a child, having been betrayed and exploited by several figures throughout his life. He presents himself as a force to be reckoned with, but is caught speechless when someone proves him otherwise, even being told that he's nothing but a merely clueless boy. Aside from MacKay, Essie Davis is also a standout as Kelly's mother, painting a fine line between a broken yet rigid woman who is willing to do anything in exchange for her family's safety. Russel Crowe also makes quite the lasting impression as Kelly's caretaker during his younger days, setting the film up in a strong and promising way. Nicholas Hoult, Thomasin Mackenzie, and Earl Cave also add solid performances to their respective characters, including Orlando Schwerdt as the young Ned Kelly; ranging from chaotic to innocent.
 |
| Image source: IMDB |
The True History of the Kelly Gang oozes with style, in a very good way. Much like his previous film Macbeth, Kurzel has a distinct style when it comes to his films. There is a grunge/punk aesthetic that just makes it a visually pleasing film, though this type of aesthetic might not be for everyone. However, this type of aesthetic for me, is incredibly refreshing. There's a reason why directors like Wes Anderson, Quentin Tarantino, and Robert Eggers are praised, because they have their own distinct style when it comes to their films. Kurzel most definitely found his own unique style of film-making. No matter how they execute the story, you can't deny its ambition when it comes to its visual aspects. This is especially elevated by its cinematography, which is wonderfully done by Ari Wegner. There are some undeniably gorgeous shots and sequences, and some look electrifying, particularly when it comes to a sequence with strobe lights towards the final act, which makes more a fascinating yet dizzying experience, yet the aspect that I took from it the most is its visual portrayal of true desperation. Compared with the previous two films that delved into the Ned Kelly story with Jagger and Ledger, Kurzel's entry brings something new to the table by changing its visual style, it's more punk than it is a western. It's also best to mention the soundtrack, mainly that some of the songs featured in the film were written and performed by some of the cast themselves, including MacKay; that further embraces that punk rock feel.
Whether or not it is accurate to the history of the real Ned Kelly, that's for the audience to decide. I am not familiar with Ned Kelly as a historical figure, so I cannot exactly pinpoint the accuracy of the story when compared to the actual history. Hence, I can only judge it as a film. Now, does it feel more style than substance? I can say that as a film, it's dangerously balanced on a tightrope between style and substance. Sometimes it might even gear towards being more stylized than having substance; but then it also proves its potential and have powerful moments. Unfortunately, for a film that's intent on never playing it safe, it does have its tropes and underwhelming moments. Beyond the fights, the film chooses to focus on the small character moments than big spectacles as well, and that would have been fine, fantastic even; if those small moments added something impactful to the story. Sadly, they aren't enough to drive the story to an effective and emotional level. Other than Kelly's mother and Ned Kelly himself, the supporting characters end up being one-dimensional, rarely having a moment to really stand out or shine, which is unfortunate; considering that most of these characters are supposed to be vital figures for Kelly as a character. Furthermore, the story itself can be quite muddled. It knows what it wants to tell, but it gets lost in its own execution of it. Sometimes it goes straight to the point without any buildup, and other times it's abandoned in service of other aspects as soon as it's introduced.
As for Ned Kelly himself, the film does an impressive job in building him as an individual character. It's really an immersive character study of the man himself. While you can say that the film depicts Ned as the hero
of the story, the question of whether Ned Kelly was truly the "Robin
Hood of Australia" or an antagonist is still up in the air, but that's
exactly what makes him an engrossing figure. The film knows when to be brutal to the point of no return, but with the way it is presented, it's almost poetic too. It's not Kill Bill levels of brutal with blood splattering everywhere, but it's still relentless, in a very fascinating way. Contrary to its title, The True History of The Kelly Gang feels more like a re-imagining than it is a re-telling of Peter Carey's novel or the true history of Ned Kelly. In terms of storytelling, it succeeds at telling it visually, but beyond that, there are still aspects that are underwhelming, though it doesn't weigh the film down as a whole. The film succeeds in some points, but drags a little in others. It is quite an interesting film, and one that I have not
been able to fully comprehend how I truly feel about it. It's not because the
film is too complex, it's just that there are elements that I could not
exactly say as wholly negative or positive. It's a strange and
at times, an incoherent film, but the ambition and spirit behind it is undoubtedly splendid.
 |
| Image source: The Young Folks |
Overall verdict: It's hard to ignore the ambition behind such a film like The True History of the Kelly Gang. In terms of visual style, it is an absolutely gorgeous looking film. The punk rock aesthetic really adds to the experience, drawing the audience to something entirely new. MacKay is a powerhouse as the film's lead, Ned Kelly; with standout moments that will startle and amaze you as he gives it his all. Other than MacKay, the supporting cast bring solid performances, from the likes of Crowe, Hoult, Mackenzie, and Caves. Despite their one-dimensional characterization on paper, they are able to go beyond what has been written for their characters and translate them through their performance. The downside of this is that it sometimes gets a little incoherent. It's not fully a mess, but there are moments that feel like it's keeping the film rather stoic than elevating it. Despite its flaws, the film makes up for it with some visually stunning sequences and great performances from its cast. This is the type of film that while it has its flaws, can effectively grip you with what it has to say, like when Ned gives a speech to his army, you're immediately drawn in, yet sometimes the things it wants to say could be lost in favor of something else. The True History of the Kelly Gang is in no means, intended to be accurate to its original story; but then again, most biopics on real figures has its fictionalized moments. But because of its choice to put a new spin on the story of the Australian outlaw, it makes for quite a unique watch.
Stars: 3.3/5
The True History of the Kelly Gang is currently available on demand and selected digital platforms
0 Comments