If you’re advertising the sizzle, you better be delivering steak…
True Story of the Kelly Gang focuses far too much on style in a fictionalized retelling of this tale that focuses on set pieces then story.
He only lived until he was 25 years young, but the story of Outlaw Ned Kelly was enough to become one of legend much like that of Jesse James or Robin Hood. An Irish immigrant growing up in the dustbowl of the outback both he and his family would frequently push against the outback justice of the local magistrates to the point that it would all culminate in an epically violent showdown.
It’s hard to fault the feel and look of it all as director Justin Kurzel plays it like a dirty graphic novelization of this epic story as it quickly bounces from action to a wide array of different characters.
Problem is it also feels rushed, the first half is quite solid as we track young Ned Kelly (played by Orlando Schwerdt) actually carries the film better when he’s surrounded by the likes of Russell Crowe, Essie Davis and Charlie Hunnam to lead him along. However when it grows to show us George Mackay as grown-up Ned dueling with his family and new magistrate Nicholas Hoult, we lose interest pretty darn fast.
Ultimately, True Story of the Kelly Gang is just a trashy and violent retelling of this story and that’s fine, but you can’t help but feel like you’re left wanting more.
David Voigt is a Toronto based writer with a problem and a passion for the moving image and all things cinema. Having moved from production to the critical side of the aisle for well over 15 years now at outlets like Examiner.com, Criticize This, Dork Shelf (Now That Shelf), and to.Night Newspaper.
He’s been all across the continent; serving on the FIPRESCI Jury at the Festival Du Nouveau Cinema in Montreal, covering festivals out side of Toronto like Calgary Underground Film Festival, CUFF Docs, Slamdance, Fantasia, SXSW, DOC NYC, Santa Barbara Film Festival, New York Asian Film Festival and many others
However, In the uncertain world of modern film journalism, David also knew that he needed to have a hand in writing and cementing his own contributions on the global film scene.
Having eclipsed the 10 year anniversary of his own outlet, In The Seats, where he’s been striving to support film (and TV) from all walks of life and his podcast “In The Seats With…” where after 5 & ½ years and over 750 episodes he’s talked with a wide variety of filmmakers, actors, behind the scenes artisans and so much more on the art of storytelling for the screen, which is spawning the launch of a new show in the Spring of 2026. “ITS: Soundtracks” will focus on the use of soundtrack and score in film which he believes is a combination that is the cinematic equivalent of Peanut Butter and Chocolate.
All this as well as hosting and moderating a variety of big screen events around the city, covering film in all its forms is just a way of life for him.
