Review of True History of the Kelly Gang

This film had much potential with an outstanding cast, and a great sounding story, which seemed a perfect fit for director - Justin Curzel, who was able to create both haunting imagery with Macbeth and a nerve shredding experience in the true crime drama Snowtown. Here things seem to slipped free from any sense of coherence, in terms of its story and character arcs. So while you do have some really great performances from all, and at times quite striking visuals, the fact that the story never seems to gel, leaves you all a bit disconnected at times from what is happening. The first section with Ned Kelly's childhood, does promise much, but after that it descends into a style that is very reminiscent of Terrence Malick. Whispered voice over of inner thoughts, sweeping visuals, swirling camera shots of characters as they struggle with themeaning in the things happening around them. A bold choice but to pull it off I suspect you need to be Terrance Malik. You never really get the characters or key moments in their story, all just tumbles along in a bit of a mess.