A Western of epic proportions set in 1800s Australia, NED KELLY is Gregor Jordan's remake of the 1970 film that starred Mick Jagger as the notorious outlaw who lead a band of vigilantes in an affront against the Victorian police. Heath Ledger stars here as the beloved folk hero--a bush ranger, cattle thief, and gunslinger of Irish descent--who will go to any length to defend his family and friends from the wrong accusations the police make against them. Becoming a Robin Hood figure with the Kelly Gang (Orlando Bloom and Laurence Kinlan) by his side, the cowboys rob banks and preach to the local people, always trying to prove their mission in fighting for justice. Kelly becomes a symbol of both national pride and lawlessness, and he and his gang are revered by those with a rebellious spirit, and worshipped by young women and plain folks who can relate to them. But they are feared and loathed by the upper classes and the authorities (Geoffrey Rush), who place a bounty on Kelly's head and make it legal for any person to shoot him dead. The final showdown is a fantastic nighttime action sequence that benefits from silvery photography in near total darkness and dramatic, fiery performances. NED KELLY earns its place alongside the best Westerns on celluloid.
Theatrical Release Date: March 26, 2004 (LIMITED)
DVD Features:
Region 1
Keep Case
Widescreen - 2.35
Audio:
DTS 5.1 Surround - English
Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
Dolby Digital 5.1 - Spanish
Additional Release Material:
Featurettes - 1. "Ned Kelly in Popular Culture"
2. "The Real Kelly Gang"
3. "Artist to Feature Comparison"
Trailers - 1. Theatrical Trailers
Text/Image Galleries:
Poster Campaign
Stars
Heath Ledger: Australian Actor; BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN
Orlando Bloom: Actor, LORD OF THE RINGS (2001)
Naomi Watts: Actress
Geoffrey Rush: Australian Actor, QUILLS (2000)
Rachel Griffiths: Actress
Kerry Condon: Actor, RAT (2001)
Russell Dykstra: Actor
Joel Edgerton: Actor, THE HARD WORD (2003)
Laurence Kinlan: Actor, SALTWATER (2001)
Peter Phelps: Australian Actor
Director
Gregor Jordan: Director, BUFFALO SOLDIERS (2003)
Producer
John Michael McDonagh: Screenwriter, NED KELLY (2004)
Nelson Woss: Producer, NED KELLY (2004)
Lynda House: Producer, NED KELLY (2004)
Screenwriter
John Michael McDonagh: Screenwriter, NED KELLY (2004)
Composer
Klaus Badelt: Musical Composer/Performer
Source Writer
Robert Drewe: Source Writer, NED KELLY (2004)
Director of Photography
Oliver Stapleton:
Review 1:
"The film, shot in somber faded tones by Oliver Stapleton, revels in period details and in the harsh beauty of the Australian landscape."
Source: New York Times
p.E26 03/26/2004
Review 2:
"This handsome production has the grandeur and sweep of a classic western."
Source: Los Angeles Times
p.E12 03/26/2004
Review 3:
"The classically structured wronged-outlaw tale has a gritty, authentic feel that hearkens back to the rebel Hollywood westerns of the '60s and '70s."
Source: Box Office
p.31 05/01/2004