Review of The Legend of Ben Hall (2016) by Pat M — 06 Dec 2016

That the production of 'The Legend of Ben Hall' started as a crowdfunded passion project short-film, and then progressed to a fully-fledged rousing film epic, is a genuine testament to the vision and dedication of the talented filmmakers on both sides of the camera.

I'm still amazed at how stunningly beautiful the film is - there are few better showcases of the iconic Australian bush, and considering the interrupted production and limited budget, the time and attention to detail spent getting the look and feel of the period setting right is truly remarkable, and worthy of being compared to other recent period accurate productions like Deadwood, Appaloosa, and The Revenant.

The story of Ben Hall and his bushranging companions, John Gilbert and John Dunn, is compellingly told, and peppered with rousing action sequences and moments of genuine emotion - the finale being particularly affecting.

I doubt there was a dry eye in the packed cinema where I viewed the film. While it's not a perfect film, some of the dialogue and performances are a little bit stilted in places, The Legend of Ben Hall is well worth seeing if you're a fan of westerns and great cinema - you wont be disappointed.