Ned Kelly Story

The Ned Kelly story is a biographical western drama based on the novel Our Sunshine written by Robert Drewe and adapted for the screen by John Michael McDonagh and directed by Gregor Jordan. The Ned Kelly story was filmed throughout Australia and released on March 22, 2003 and although the Ned Kelly story only earned an estimated $6,000,000 it still garnered 16 award nominations and 3 wins including 2 AFI Awards as well as an IF Award. It was subsequently released on DVD July 27th, 2004.

The Ned Kelly story recounts the life of Australian farmer turned bushranger Ned Kelly, portrayed by Heath Ledger. Because of English and Irish tensions that occurred during the 19th century Ned Kelly along with his brother Dan Kelly, portrayed by Laurence Kinlan, form a gang with two other men, Steve Hart, portrayed by Philip Barantini, and Joeseph Bryne, portrayed by Orlando Bloom.

The Ned Kelly story opens with Ned Kelly sleeping in the Australian outback, dreaming of his youth and awaking to find a horse next to him. Ned decides to ride the horse into town and is immediately arrested for horse theft, which Ned later discovers was actually stolen by his friend Wild Wright, portrayed by Russell Dykstra, but is jailed anyway.

After three years, Ned is released from prison and he travels home to the warm welcome of his family. After a long day of tending the family farm, Ned and his sister Kate, portrayed by Kerry Condon, go to the local bar where Victorian police officer Fitzpatrick, portrayed by Kiri Paramore, offers to buy her a drink. After a verbal confrontation between himself and Ned over the courting of his sister, Fitzpatrick leaves the bar with his fellow officers and as a way of getting back at Ned, steals his horses. After a brief investigation by Ned, his brother Dan, as well as Steve Hart, Joe Bryne and Wild Wright, they discover who stole the horses and proceed to steal them back. When learning of Ned's absence one night, Fitzpatrick decides to see Kate, but is told that she is not in any way interested in him. Feeling rejected, Fitzpatrick informs the family that arrest warrants have been issued for them for horse stealing. A fight erupts and after heading back to the police station he tells the other officers that Ned Kelly has shot him.

The police proceed to arrest Ned's mother, and in response Ned, Dan, Steve, and Joe become outlaws and start there run from the law. They eventually meet up with the police in the woods, and kill Constable Lonnigan, portrayed by Peter Phelps, along with two others. For years to come, Ned, Dan, Steve, and Joe, now called the Kelly Gang, avoid capture by trying to live off the land in the wild.

The British Empire decides to send in Superintendent Francis Hare, portrayed by Geoffrey Rush, to clean up the mess and he begins to make numerous arrests to force the Kelly Gang out of hiding. Hare locates Aaron Sherrit, portrayed by Joel Edgerton, who happens to be a close friend of Joe Bryne. Hare tells Sherrit that they do not actually want Bryne, but only Ned and Dan Kelly, so Sherrit gives Hare a possible location to the gang. After discovering the betrayal, Bryne sneaks into Sherrit's home and shoots him out of revenge.

Nearing the end of the Ned Kelly story, the Kelly Gang takes over a town named Glenrowan, and wins over the townspeople. Hearing this, Lieutenant Hare and the Victorian police set out to capture Ned there, and a large battle erupts with many casualties. The Kelly gang improvises a new type of armour designed to cover their upper body, however Joe Byrne is shot nonetheless. Dan and Steve make a final pact leaving Ned alone to deal with the final outcome. Ned tries valiantly to fight off police but is shot multiple times and is captured. Although Ned Kelly was granted a full pardon after a petition of over 32,000 signatures, his real fate was decided on November 11, 1880.