by MGM (Video & DVD)
Sales Rank: 40795
Price: $9.94
Mick Jagger had one of his rare sizable acting roles, as the famed Australian outlaw, in this atmospheric biopic (remade in 2004 with Heath Ledger). The movie has the look and spirit of other Vietnam-era counterculture Westerns, with Irishman Ned Kelly a rebel against the unjust Establishment. Tony Richardson's direction has the free-for-all laxity of the era, though the general sense of mess is tidied up by the often stunning location photography by ace DP Gerry Fisher. What makes the film memorable is the soundtrack, a heavy portion of which is made up of Western ballads written by witty Shel Silverstein and sung by Waylon Jennings; elsewhere, the Amish-bearded Jagger croons "The Wild Colonial Boy." A charitable assessment of Jagger's performance would conclude that he brings an intriguing Pirandellian presence to the role; a more clear-eyed view would say that he simply doesn't have the acting chops to carry it off. <I>--Robert Horton</I>
Viewer Reviews after so many makes of the kelly gang they finally get it right having a young person playing his age.not until the late great heath ledger plays our ned we get a great film.way back in 1969 we in oz had to put up with imports playing our heroes.many complained that jagger played ned kelly but expecting jumpin jack flash any moment he did a great job.pity marianne wasn't well then we could have had the ultimate stones flick. highly recommended
