True History Of The Kelly Gang

Western/Drama/Romance

Starring: George MacKay, Nicholas Hoult, Essie Davis, Russell Crowe, Charlie Hunnam, Orlando Schwerdt, Ben Corbett, Earl Cave.

Young Ned Kelly (Orlando Schwerdt) is the apple of the eye of his manipulative and resourceful mother, Ellen (Essie Davis), who loses her weak-willed husband Red (Ben Corbett) at the hands of scheming lawman Sergeant O'Neil (Charlie Hunnam).

The boy is forced to grow up before his time as man of the house and Ned learns to fend with tutelage from gun-toting, gnarly bush ranger Harry Power (Russell Crowe).

As Ned comes of age (now played by George MacKay), he declares war on Constable Fitzpatrick (Nicholas Hoult) by forming a gang with his younger brother Dan (Earl Cave) and a couple of friends.

Battle lines are drawn between the outlaws and Fitzpatrick's heavily armed officers, culminating in a terrifying night-time shoot-out.

True History Of The Kelly Gang is an unremittingly grim and muscular interpretation of Peter Carey's Booker Prize-winning novel based loosely on the exploits of outlaw Ned Kelly and his gang in the late 19th century.

In 2015, Australian director Justin Kurzel cut a stylish swathe through William Shakespeare's Macbeth with a bloodthirsty and emotionally bruising adaptation starring Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard.

Here, the award-winning film-maker harnesses that same testosterone-soaked energy, pulling no punches with explosions of graphic violence.

He also generates a heady homoerotic charge between a sinewy MacKay and brooding Hoult in the film's most extraordinary sequence.

Kurzel playfully subverts toxic masculine stereotypes but allows his film to rumble and roar for slightly too long.

The middle act sags but regains its footing with a visually arresting last stand at Glenrowan.

Rating: ***