Review of The Legend of Ben Hall (2016) by Alex S — 23 Jul 2017

This movie is an absolute hidden gem. Considering the overall small budget of this film I personally felt like this is the type of movie that has been missing from Australian cinema since The Man from Snowy River.

We have such a rich history in Australia and this movie brought the past to life! The characters were interesting and each was portrayed as an individual in their own right instead of the same old acting styles that seem to plague Hollywood films in this day and age.

Actors like Jamie Coffa who played Happy Jack should be praised for breaking the mould and pushing their acting abilities. Also to be highly commended is the historical accuracy that the producer used as the backbone for the film.

Interviews from the descendants of the actual people within this story helped guide the script. This is what was missing from Gregor Jordan's Ned Kelly film which ignored the truth for a version of Ned Kelly who thought drinking horse blood made for a better story.

The truth of Matthew Holmes film carries with it a weight that left me thinking about the characters and the story long after it has finished. And The Legend of Ben Hall has had me rewatching and thinking for the past 2 months since my first viewing.

Rarely have I found this in modern cinema. SO... well done director Matthew Holmes. We wait in hope that you obtain your finance for the next chapter of the Legends Trilogy "The Legend of Frank Gardiner".

Bravo!