True History of the Kelly Gang

For his fourth feature, Australia's prodigal son has returned to his visceral, lo-fi roots.

How True History of the Kelly Gang broadens what we mean when we say the word "outlaw" is another step forward for Justin Kurzel in his cinematic investigation of what makes a man.

Those who enjoy gritty, angry Westerns (especially those set in the Australian bush rather than along the American frontier) will find much here to their taste, none of which is in need of additional seasoning.

Kurzel favors stylized images and the occasional anachronistic metal track to provoke a mood more than faithfully recreate history. And his approach works well in this film...

Scene to scene I found it riveting, but that said, by the end of it I felt like it added up to less than the sum of its parts.

There's a texture and a muck that are so tangible that they really put you in the middle of this film. You can taste it and you can smell it.

True History of the Kelly Gang is technically marvelous, and it boasts a phenomenal cast, who all offer amazing performances. With a slow pace and an overall lack of emotional attachment to the characters, I struggled to feel invested.

At every turn, Kurzel challenges truth and oversimplified ideas about the Australian legend with a bold presentation, even as he avoids having a clear point of view.

It's established at the start that nothing in this movie is true, but that doesn't take away from its gripping intensity.

The effective overdose of machismo it delivers trumps its minor flaws. True Story Of The Kelly Gang is its director's gutsy and relentless return to form...