The Proposition – Australia – 2005 – Western, Crime, Drama
Directed by: John Hillcoat
Written by: Nick Cave
Main Players: Guy Pearce; Ray Winstone; Emily Watson; Danny Huston; John Hurt; Noah Taylor; Richard Wilson; David Wenham

This gritty and violent western takes place in the 1880’s Australian Outback. When two of the nefarious Burns gang brothers, the older Charlie Burns (Pearce) and younger Mikey Burns (Wilson), are taken into custody by lawman Captain Stanley (Winstone), the eldest of the two is offered a secret proposition: he is to track down and take down his older brother Arthur (Huston).
Charlie has nine days, or else the youngest of the trio will face execution on Christmas day. Arthur is accused of ghastly crimes, to which Charlie understands require retribution, though he wrestles with the fact that it is his brother that he is after. Mikey remains in prison, and Charlie heads out into the rugged and dry western desert.
The cast is fantastic, though there are not too many sympathetic figures. The music is unique and fitting. The choreography is beautiful, whether focused on the small town of English settlers, or the dusty and barren western deserts full of Aboriginals.
While the film’s violence happens in small spurts, some of the scenes are quite harrowing. The story’s themes are complex throughout, and by the end there may not be answers thoroughly given to all of the conundrums the script brings up.
This movie mostly went under the radar of American viewers; however, it should absolutely be considered for those that love westerns, and have strong constitutions. The violence is unflinching, and the realism is strong, so be aware that there are no “easy outs” in this Australian excursion.
See This If You Liked:
Hostiles; Unforgiven; True Grit (1969; 2010); The Searchers; 3:10 to Yuma (1957; 2007); Butcher’s Crossing; The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford; Bone Tomahawk
Score:
8.0