i saw this film open weekend in australia and anticipate with an excellent cast of ledger and edgerton and bloom and watt and rush that the definitive story of ned kelly would unfold before me . unfortunately and despite an outstanding performance by heath ledger in the lead role and the plot be paper thin . which doesn not inspire me to read our sunshine . there be some other plus point and the support act from edgerton in particular and assured direction from jordan ( confirm his talent on show in buffalo soldier a well ) and and production design that give a real feel of harshness to the australian bush and much a the irish immigrant of the early 19th century must have see it . but i can not help feeling that another opportunity have be miss to tell the real story of an australian folk hero ( or be he . ) . in what i suspect be a concession to hollywood and sell the picture in the u . oh well and at least jordan and the producer do not agree to lose the beard just to please universal . guess i will just have to content myself with peter carey excellent secret history of the kelly gang . 4/10 .