Gregor Jordan's "Ned Kelly" isn't as memorable as Tony Richardson's "Ned Kelly." In truth, however, Heath Ledger cuts a more heroic figure in Jordan's film than rock star icon Mick Jagger did in Richardson's film. This is the second sound film about the notorious Australian bandit who was hounded by the Victoria Police for his crimes as well as those crimes that the police made up about him. Jordan conjures up some sympathy for Kelly. Despite his handsome Errol Flynn looks, Ledger seems grim and haunted. Looking glum by comparison is the policeman, Superintendent Francis Hare (Geoffrey Rush of "The Warrior's Way"), who is dispatched with a trainload of heavily armed coppers to catch him. By this time, Ned is the most wanted outlaw in the world with eight thousand pounds on his head. There are no prison scenes with Ned in the goal, so we don't see him dangle from the end of a noose like Richardson had Jagger in the opening moments of his earlier "Ned Kelly." Orlando Bloom is fine as Ned's best friend Joseph Byrne, while Joel Edgerton is cast as their treacherous friend Aaron Sherritt. Naomi Watts plays a housewife who has a moment in the stable with Ned. Actually, she refuses to provide him with an alibi that would have proven the Victoria Police had lied about Ned's crime. Sadly, she fears if she were to come forward, her husband would be disgraced as would she, and her children would be taken from her. Nothing spectacular, but efficiently made, even if the outlaws generate little charisma. The villainous police aren't as hateful as they should have been portrayed.
