‘True History of the Kelly Gang’ Film Review: Outlaw Epic Isn’t True, But It Packs a Punch

Justin Kurzel’s period drama stars George Mackay, Russell Crowe, Charlie Hunnam and Nicholas Hoult

true history of the kelly gang
IFC Films

Lots of films are based on true stories and real people, but Justin Kurzel’s “True History of the Kelly Gang” may be the only one to admit that even movies based on real life can’t be trusted. The first words we see on the screen in Kurzel’s dark epic, which had its world premiere last fall in Toronto, are “nothing you are about to see is true.” All of those words fade away except the last one, which then forms the first word of the movie’s title.

So the word truth, in this instance, will mean whatever we want it to mean.

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