The Legend of Ben Hall

| Release Date: December 16, 2016

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GregMossJul 23, 2019

Tonally, at least, Matthew Holmes' The Legend of Ben Hall leans more towards the gritty realism of The Proposition (sans the savage bleakness and brutality) - than it does the comic book levity of Robbery Under Arms. This is not to say theTonally, at least, Matthew Holmes' The Legend of Ben Hall leans more towards the gritty realism of The Proposition (sans the savage bleakness and brutality) - than it does the comic book levity of Robbery Under Arms. This is not to say the film is without its lighter moments (particularly in scenes involving Jamie Coffa’s character), but overall, the tone does echo the seriousness of Ridley Scott’s Gladiator (a film which Ben Hall does indeed give a nod to; with regard to the use of dream-like familial visions to help flesh out the titular character).

Holmes’ background in the precise art and science of visual effects lends the film a well-machined look. This is not to say the film is a visual effects extravaganza - it’s not. But Holmes’ (almost microscopic) eye for detail in all departments is clearly evident in every frame. Here is a filmmaker who knows precisely what he’s doing; where to place the camera, where to edit, how to stage a scene for maximum impact - it’s all here. And his skills are truly impressive in this respect. And for a relatively low budget feature sporting a period setting, production values are uncharacteristically high (with every cent clearly up there on the screen). Indeed, the film has been enthusiatically embraced by historians as the most authentic representation of this particular period ever put on screen.

The large supporting cast are uniformly excellent; with the stand-out being William Lee; here delivering a perfectly nuanced performance as Hall’s youngest and most impressionable gang member, John Dunn. Dunn is perhaps the character who undergoes the most dramatic change through the course of the film and Lee does an outstanding job; definitely a name to watch for in the coming years. Also very good are Jordan Fraser-Trumble (in a role remarkably similar to that of Harvey Keitel in Thelma & Louise) - as the sympathetic Sub-Inspector Davidson; a man determined to capture Hall alive and Lauren Grimson as Hall’s love interest Christina McKinnon (another new face I predict big things for in the future). Plucked straight from acting school, Jack Martin, as the titular hero, all brooding stoicism - is undoubtedly an imposing presence on-screen (although he does tend to be upstaged at times by Jaimi Coffa - as Hall’s clearly psychopathic offsider John Gilbert). And while the dialogue scenes between Ben and his estranged wife Biddi (regarding custody of their young son) can be a little too wordy and on-point to be convincing (particularly during the first half) - the bushranging scenes involving Ben and his gang more than make up for this.

The film features numerous action set-pieces and Holmes displays a keen sense of geography during the various stage coach robberies and shoot-outs with police; skillfully immersing us within the action; while the richly-textured sound design and Caitlin Spiller’s unobtrusive and perfectly-timed editing (there isn’t a single superfluous shot in this film) - also contribute greatly to the overall impact and excitement of these scenes. The epic grandeur of the Australian outback (with country Victoria standing in for New South Wales locales, circa 1860s) are beautifully captured by DP Peter Szilveszter; demanding this movie be seen on the biggest screen possible. While Ronnie Minder’s sweeping score perfectly augments the emotion, suspense and tragedy inherent in the tale.

Minor quibbles aside, The Legend of Ben Hall is a hugely engaging and culturally important film and a movie all Australians should enthusiastically embrace and be justifiably proud of.

4 stars out of 5… Expand

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