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Nadia Levy

YAHOO SERIOUS

RECKLESS KELLY

"SUCH IS LIFE"

PART 1:

FILM INFORMATION

PRINCIPAL CAST AND CREDITS

DIRECTOR: Yahoo Serious

SCRIPTWRITER: Yahoo Serious

CINEMATOGRAPHER: Kevin Hayward

PRODUCER: Yahoo Serious and Warwick Ross

PRODUCTION COMPANY: Warner Bros and Serious Entertainment

LEAD ACTORS: Yahoo Serious Ned Kelly

Melora Hardin Robin Banks

Alexi Sayle Major Wib

Hugo Weaving Sir John

Kathleen Freeman Mrs. Delance

John Pinette Sam Delance

Bob Maza Dan Kelly

Anthony Ackroyd Joe Kelly

 

RELEASE DATES

Reckless Kelly was released over Easter in Australia, on the 8th of April, 1993. Was then internationally released between 1994-95, opening on the 14th of September, 1994 in the USA.

BOX OFFICE DETAILS

Gross: $203,602 (USA)

Was apparently "..the most popular film at the Australian box office on its release at Easter 1993..." (http://www.yahooserious.com/biog.html, pg.2)

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF WRITTEN WORK RELATED TO FILM

INTERVIEW: By Andrew L Urban

TITLE: Yahoo Serious: Reckless Kelly. Interview by Urban, Andrew. L

AUTHOR: Serious, Yahoo

SOURCE: Cinema Papers, no. 92, Apr 1993: (30)-35, 72

USER COMMENTS:

TITLE: A Must For Daft Comedy Fans

AUTHOR: (thehumanduvet@hotmail.com)

SOURCE: http://us.imdb.com.commentsshow?0107930

TITLE: Why Always Compare this to Young Einstein?

AUTHOR: Sic Coyote

SOURCE: http://us.imdb.com.commentsshow?0107930

TITLE: Not a Lost Cause

AUTHOR: Charles Daniels

SOURCE: http://us.imdb.com.commentsshow?0107930

REVIEWS:

Disappointed to say that I could not get a hold of one single review on this film.

Same goes for essays and discussion in books.

ONLINE PRESENCE IN WEB LITERATURE

Yahoo Serious's personal website: http://www.YahooSerious.com

Film information: http://imdb.com

http://rottentomatoes.com

Unfortunately, my hours of searching in libraries and on the Internet left me with no great successes of finding ANY reviews, discussions in books, nor essays in journals, related to the film Reckless Kelly. I have, however managed to locate an interview with writer, director, producer and star, Yahoo Serious before the release of his film. On Yahoo Serious's own personal website, I have also managed to locate general film information, also to do with his previous film, Young Einstein and his latest film, Mr Accident. Information and reviews on Serious's other 2 films, Young Einstein in particular, are available on almost every website I had visited, and is written about in numerous journals. The way I translate this, is the fact that because Young Einstein was internationally a 'great hit', there is therefore so much more information available, especially on the international websites. Whereas Reckless Kelly, although it was supposedly a 'box office hit' in Australia, because it wasn't so successful overseas, it makes it difficult to find any information on this film whatsoever.

This has made me come to realise how much Australian films aren't properly recognised nor acknowledged all over the world - not even here, in Australia. I chose this film Reckless Kelly, because I enjoy Yahoo Serious's work, and thought automatically that I would have no problems finding quantities of information related to this film. I remember going to the cinema to see this film with my father, and we both thoroughly enjoyed it, that I remember we even hired it out on video a couple of times afterwards. I was moreover surprised when I recently asked an older friend of mine wether he had enjoyed the film, and was in complete shock when I found out he hadn't even heard of Reckless Kelly. I do find it ironic, however, that if this film was such a box office hit in Australia, why is it that I couldn't find any relevant information? Why haven't people even heard about it? What about box office details in Australian currency, rather than only about its lack of spectacular success in the USA? My theory is, that if this were an American film, I believe there would be several sources almost overflowing with information about this film. Is it our sense of humour that scare other cultures away? Even so, why isn't it at least celebrated within our own country? I find rather disappointing, especially when such creative Australian films are pushed aside and therefore not even acknowledged by the Australian people. I believe Australian films should be celebrated for what they are, and not always kept apart from the rest of the world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PART 2:

CRITICAL REVIEW OF FILM & ITS LITERATURE.

Yahoo Serious, from Newcastle, Australia, was the writer, director, producer and star of the film, Reckless Kelly. Yahoo Serious actually began his film-making career at the age of 21, where he also wrote, produced, directed and filmed Coaltown, a documentary on the history of coalmining. Shortly after, Yahoo Serious's TV series, Lifestyle, then won him the Australian Penguin Award for the Best Educational Documentary. As Yahoo Serious then roamed the world, he commenced exploring the field of experimental comedies, in which he wrote, directed, and performed. In 1988, Yahoo Serious's career took off, as he became internationally praised with his first feature film, Young Einstein. He also became the first Australian to write, direct and star in his own feature film.

Serious's next feature, Reckless Kelly, released in 1993, then also became, according to The Bulletin Magazine (week ending April 14, 1993), the most popular Australian film at the Australian box office.Reckless Kelly, as part of the English-language cinema, was then internationally released, although its success did not follow. However, I have not been able to locate any of this box office information, relating to the film's success in Australia. As I mentioned earlier, in Part 1, I found that because this film wasn't so successful overseas, it makes it difficult to find any related information whatsoever.

 

Within the film, Reckless Kelly itself, Yahoo Serious has taken the historical Australian legend of Ned Kelly and has placed him in a more contemporary society. Here, the famous Kelly gang has evolved from the traditional horse-back outlaws, to a popular, rebellious, 90's biker gang. The 'gang' however has now become a one-man-clan, Ned Kelly, who lives with other family members in remote Australian wilderness, on Reckless Island. His lone success in robbing from banks and giving to the poor freezes as the bank turns against the Kelly gang, threatening to sell Reckless Island to the Japanese as a tourist resort. In order for the Kelly's to maintain their property, they must reimburse the bank 1 million dollars. Due to the fact the Kelly gang aren't permitted to maintain the money they rob from Australian banks, Ned ventures to Hollywood and Las Vegas, as "for an outlaw, America is a land of opportunity." By then suddenly becoming an accidental B-Grade move star, Ned is able to buy back his native land with the money he then earns.

In the interview by Andrew L. Urban, writer, producer, director and star of Reckless Kelly, Yahoo Serious, describes Ned Kelly as:

"...a working class, egalitarian and laconic larrikin with a disgust for authority." (Cinema Papers, no.92, Apr, 1993 pg.33)

Serious then questions Australia's identity, and believes that the original Ned Kelly is more or less Australia's only image. He then goes on to say:

" Ned Kelly represents many things. For example, there are Chinese, Japanese and French Kellys, and, of course, Irish Kellys and Aboriginal Kellys. Ned is a metaphor for what we are today." (Cinema Papers, no.92, Apr, 1993 pg.33)

I particularly enjoyed the idea of placing the character of Australian legend, Ned Kelly into a contemporary society. Especially the idea of how Ned's version of robbing from the rich had been transformed into shooting at teller machines. Although as funny as this film may seem, a series of issues related to contemporary society are raised throughout the modern day character of Ned, including republican views, environmental issues, Aboriginal heritage and land rights and the satirisation of gun-obsessed America and Hollywood myths.

Yahoo Serious, himself, is a republican. He has rubbed this character trait onto his 90's version of the legendary Ned Kelly. This characteristic is portrayed throughout the film, and becomes clearly evident in one particular scene, when Ned and Dan Kelly visit Sir John, the monarchist bank executive, to reclaim Reckless Island. Here, Ned cuts the Union Jack out of Sir John's proudly exhibited Australian flag. Ned then replaces it with a blue bar mat, displaying the picture of a kangaroo, which is from his home, the Glenrowan Hotel. Sir John reacts in complete shock, saying, "But that's the British flag!." Ned then replies, throwing the Union Jack to the floor, "Well take it back to Britain!." At the end of the film, after the Kelly's had finished fighting off the corporate bankers and had won back their Island, they raise the same flag, with the kangaroo replacing the Union Jack. I found this an especially powerful moment, as this then symbolised their defeat, and their lack of need for any help from the British. The Kelly's had gotten rid of the British bankers, once and for all, as so the Union Jack, replacing it and celebrating a new national emblem which represents the Kelly family and their home. Ironically, Paul Keating became Prime Minister during the time of Reckless Kelly's production, and as he first stepped foot in Parliament, he said, "Lets get rid of the flag."

The representations of the American Hollywood culture was completely exaggerated, through the ideologies and myths relating to Hollywood actors and America's overall obsession with guns, within the film. For example in the film, when Ned Kelly receives his well-earned money for his short-term acting career, he calls his family to reveal the good news that he now has the money to reclaim their home, Reckless Island. Ned uses his film director's (Sam Delance) home telephone, which sarcastically happens to be in the shape of a revolver. Whilst already on the phone, another phone rings- the evil corporate bankers are on the second phone line, wishing to speak with Ned. Ned then takes the second phone, which also happens to be in the shape of a gun, this time the gun-telephone being excessively large. With Ned then standing there, with two guns held to his head (strictly for communicating purposes only), this then symbolises the extreme in which America and Ned Kelly, have both incorporated the extravagant use of guns into everyday life. Yahoo Serious also mentions in his interview with Andrew L. Urban;

"I'm an anti-violence freak and I learnt that, if you want to get a point across, then the best thing to do is to have the main character embrace that aspect. In this case, he's the best shot in the world, but then he comes to see that guns are the wrong way of doing things, especially when confronted with the madness of American society and all that it offers."(Cinema Papers, no.92, Apr, 1993 pg.32-3)

 

There are numerous similarities to be found between Reckless Kelly and Yahoo Serious's previously successful film, Young Einstein. First and foremost, the quirky Australian sense of humour, and the celebration of Australia as a whole; the typical 'outback', the countryside, the cities, and the beautiful animals. These are two particular reasons why I enjoy the work of Yahoo Serious.

In Reckless Kelly, Ned has a strong dislike for flies. The sound of a fly buzzing anywhere within the range of a few metres of Ned, automatically triggers Ned to pull out his gun, aim without looking and successfully shoot the fly in mid flight. This quirky idea is repeated several times throughout the film. It represents how Ned has developed the uses of his gun, which is his most prized possession, into everyday usage to the point that he no longer realises how dangerous it can be, (that is, until the end of the film, where he then realises that guns aren't the answer to everything). In fact, it is his fascinating usage of his gun which leads Ned to be recognised as a successful, American quality, gun-obsessed actor.

In Young Einstein, the main character, Albert Einstein has a similarly odd fetish. Here, every time Albert undertakes a new adventure, he would bite into an apple, only once, then throwing the rest away. This symbolically represents his home in Tasmania on the apple farm and also suggests that a simple apple is his source of "food for thought".

Within both films, Yahoo Serious tends to celebrate the Australian culture through the constant citings of stereotypical Australian characteristics. Throughout Reckless Kelly, there are Australian animals constantly appearing on the screen and are treated as though they are people and part of the family. These animals including emus, wombats, chickens, cockatoos, kangaroos- which have a "poing" sound effect for every time one should hop across the screen, Ned's pet dog, called 'Dog', who can say the magic word, "cornflakes", and my particular favourite, the koala, seen clinging onto the flagpole, wearing a party hat! Then there's the portrayal of the Australian landscape, as we see and follow Ned to work, from the bushland, through the red, deserted roads and arriving in the city of Sydney, where he then goes to work.

This overall style had been previously used in Young Einstein. There is also the large portrayal of Australian creatures, however more of the dangerous sort, as when we see the rugged Australian outback, Albert Einstein is travelling on foot. This then makes it more understandable if the character were then to stumble upon snakes, scorpions and spiders.

Moreover, the two 'Serious' films celebrate multiculturalism. Also in the 1990's, the internationalisation and globalisation of Australian films was rapidly increasing. Here, not only were Australian films becoming internationally recognised, moreover the production of the films itself became a multicultural event. Both films were internationally distributed, were partially filmed in other countries and starred some overseas actors. In Reckless Kelly, the emphasis on multiculturalism has been even further developed, where an Aborigine is part of the Kelly family. Obviously historically impossible, this twist to the story reflected an aspect of Australian society, at the time this film was released. The early 1990's, was the beginning of awareness and respect for the Aborigines. There were numerous issues raised, including Aborigines trying to reclaim tribal land, which they believed was rightfully theirs. In Reckless Kelly, this is reflected when the Kelly gang try to argue that Reckless Island is 'tribal land' and the Kelly gang had been the first native inhabitants ever on the island. With the evidence of birth certificates from the first natives of the island, (which were hand prints on broken cement slabs!) it still came down to the fact they had to fork out the money to keep their land. There were also references within the film to the Aboriginal 'Dreamtime' mythology. In the cellar of the Glenrowan Hotel (and video rental), there was a large Aboriginal Dreamtime story painted on the red, stone wall. The picture was of men standing on the ground, looking up at the boomerang filled sky, some sheltering themselves from the weapons. Dan Kelly, the Aboriginal member of the family, explained to Ned, that the picture tells the Dreamtime story that the island had been under threat once before, and that the Kelly gang had to fight hard for their defeat. At the end of the film, this picture is translated to fight off the corporate bankers, who were the men below, by having cans of beer thrown at them from above. The beer cans representing the 'white mans' modern boomerang.

 

Yahoo Serious has discussed on his web page how Australian cinema has no common mould where all of our nationally made films can be placed into. Rather, the Australian film industry is well known for challenging all forms of established. In the same interview I mentioned earlier, Yahoo Serious also said:

"It is also a wonderful privilege for some relatively poor, ordinary, working-class kid to make a statement about his culture that will go all over the world. You don't get to do that in a lot of countries, which is one of the great things about Australia." (Cinema Papers, no.92, Apr, 1993 pg.33)

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the creative ways in which Yahoo Serious has portrayed his version of the Australian society, and the mockery of that of the Americans, within his film Reckless Kelly. Although in some places I found this film to be completely disjointed, I found that this created a representation of Australian cinema as a whole. Ok, I'll also admit that some of the jokes were rather pitiable, and the performances of some actors weren't of the greatest quality, I nevertheless felt truly comforted by the typical Australian 'quirkiness' aspect of this film.

I have just spent a year in Europe, and I must admit I had tremendously missed our Australian humour. For me, watching an Australian film makes me feel at home, and proud of where I come from, particularly when I can relate so well with the issues raised. This is why I particularly enjoy the work of Yahoo Serious so much; he is a true "Aussie", who reflects his version of Australia through comedy. He believes in what he puts across to his viewers, and tries to make a statement with this. I particularly agree with one of the user comments which I had found on the International Movie Database. Viewer, "Jakeroo" said;

"Yahoo is always interesting to watch. He tries some original stuff- sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t."

(http://us.imdb.com/CommentsShow?0107930)

 

The film, Reckless Kelly is what I find to be a clever, well thought out film, which successfully employs the celebration of Australia and Australian cinema. I do, however, find it rather disappointing that information related to this film is almost impossible to locate. Many Australian films, in comparison to the distribution of American films and their related information, are not being supported as such, sadly not even here, in Australia.

I believe Yahoo Serious to be an extremely creative, authentic Australian film artist. His ‘style’, of consolidating comedy, realism and history, is unique and therefore suits perfectly to the ‘hard to categorise’ Australian cinema. Within his film, Serious manages to capture many related issues; the Australian ‘quirky’ humour, celebration of native animals and landscape; and issues relating to contemporary society; multiculturalism, Aboriginal heritage and land rights, republicanism, environmentalism, and the American-related myths with Hollywood and exaggerated gun-obsession. Overall, Yahoo Serious dedicates a lot of his time to film-making, especially when he is the writer, director, producer and star of such a feature film. I personally admire this in Serious, especially when all of his efforts and creations have been formed together to create such a successful, Australian film, as Reckless Kelly.