The Proposition (2005)

[Christina Delassalle]

Ok I just have to implore anybody who has not seen this film to do so. If you hate it, I'll send you the cost of the rental.

Set in late 19th century colonial Australia, Guy Pearce plays Charlie Burns a bushranger like criminal who formally made up the Burns gang with his older brother Arthur and his younger brother Mikey. When his older brother leads the Burns gang into killing a family and raping the mother, Charlie decides he must take his younger brother away from the power of his older brother. Shortly after he leaves his older brother, he and his younger brother are caught by the police. Charlie's younger brother is sentenced to be hanged by the neck until death. It is here that the story begins when the head of police Captain Stanley(Ray Winstone) offers Charlie "a proposition", if Charlie hunts down and kills his older brother, the chief of police will let his younger brother live.

The film is so drenched in dust and dirt you can feel it. It is very graphic and the violence is wince enducing. Yet this is not violence for the sake of violence, this is meaningful and deep. The imagery and scenery are superb, sunsets over endless flat deserts are used repeatedly to great effect. Even though I emphasis the brutallity it wasn't gratuitous, it is what the story is about, a violent time and violent men. I found it ironic that the most educated and well read of all the characters was the most violent one. Authur Burns really appreciated a great sunset too.


Guy Pearce is brilliant as Charlie. Ray Winstone is captivating as the troubled police captain who has been brought out from England to Australia to 'civilise' the country. Danny Huston is also superb as Arthur Burns. Not one character in this film is black and white, all of them are deep and well expanded.

Anyway, man (or woman) does not live by noir alone and this is really an exceptional film, I think you guys would really dig it.

Here is a shot of the remarkable, wonderfully talented Danny Huston, Arthur Burns. Well.... he is John Huston's son, can we expect anything less! Walter Huston is one of my favorite actors. What a family tree. Ok Anjelica is no slouch either.

[dax]

I like this film alot Christina, and have bought it twice ( dvd and blu-ray). As you said the violence is wince enducing at times, and will upset some people. The sountrack is also very good thanks to Nick Cave.

[Christina Delassalle]

I like this film alot Christina, and have bought it twice ( dvd and blu-ray). As you said the violence is wince enducing at times, and will upset some people. The sountrack is also very good thanks to Nick Cave.

Yes we have it too.
I think a few people missed this movie because it did not get a very broad theater release. Glad you liked it too.

I always feel like I need a fly swatter on hand to get through this film. I love it. Nick Cave wrote the screenplay as I am sure you must know. (I am also a fan of Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds)

I was remiss in not mentioning John Hurt, a small but great role.

I like this movie so much because it seems so real, not like alot of our squeaky clean westerns.

[Richard]

The Proposition isn't a western, no matter how hard they try to make it look like one. The American west didn't happen in Australia. The story was good, if a bit sadistic, and I thought it over-did the dirt. Sorry.


I liked Tell Them Willie Boy Is Here (1969), Monte Walsh (1970), Ulzana's Raid (1972), the chic flick Heartland (1978), The Long Riders (1980), The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez (1983), The Assassination of Jesse James By the Coward Robert Ford (2008), and Appaloosa (2009) for authentic American westerns And to some extent, insofar as authenticity goes, Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid (1973). I also like the Swedish-made-in-America trilogy The Emigrants, The New Land, and Zandy's Bride (1974).

Some memorable noir westerns include Pursued, Blood On the Moon, The Gun Fighter, Devil's Doorway and The Furies, The Man From Del Rio, those Budd-Boetticher / Burt Kennedy / Randolph Scott collaborations, Day of the Outlaw, The Shooting (1965) and its brother Ride In the Whirlwind, and Ride Beyond Vengeance.

Richard

[David]

Yes we have it too.
I think a few people missed this movie because it did not get a very broad theater release. Glad you liked it too.

I always feel like I need a fly swatter on hand to get through this film. I love it. Nick Cave wrote the screenplay as I am sure you must know. (I am also a fan of Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds)

I was remiss in not mentioning John Hurt, a small but great role.

I like this movie so much because it seems so real, not like alot of our squeaky clean westerns.

A fantastic western, Christina - good call..! I read a rave review around the time of the film's release, and when
it came to dvd I just blind-bought it. Down and dirty, rough and tough, it's a smart western with memorable
characters and characterizations. Who knew Cave had it in him? (lol)

[Christina Delassalle]

A fantastic western, Christina - good call..! I read a rave review around the time of the film's release, and when
it came to dvd I just blind-bought it. Down and dirty, rough and tough, it's a smart western with memorable
characters and characterizations. Who knew Cave had it in him? (lol)

I bought it sight unseen too. I have an Australian friend and he was raving about it when it came out. From what he knows of his history, which it alot, he vouched for it being dead on in how it captured the brutal nature of colonial Australia, the ironically nicknamed 'lucky country'.

I liked the dust and dirt and flies, it seemed more like, for me, what I imagine life would have been like in those days, ours included. What with no running water, indoor plumbing or refridgeration.

One of my very favorite noir westerns is The Furies, Walter Huston's last role, and what a swansong it was.

[reedphotos]

I saw this on Netflix streaming and promptly told my stepdad, who also is a noir fan, about it. He swears it is a remake and the original has the same name, but I've yet to find proof. Anyone else know anything about an original or is it just crazy talk?

[Christina Delassalle]

I bought it sight unseen too. I have an Australian friend and he was raving about it when it came out. From what he knows of his history, which it alot, he vouched for it being dead on in how it captured the brutal nature of colonial Australia, the ironically nicknamed 'lucky country'.

I liked the dust and dirt and flies, it seemed more like, for me, what I imagine life would have been like in those days, ours included. What with no running water, indoor plumbing or refridgeration.

One of my very favorite noir westerns is The Furies, Walter Huston's last role, and what a swansong it was.

Hi, are you talking about The Proposition or The Furies?