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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Gritty & Intense Western From Down Under That Boasts An Amazing Screenplay, Great Acting, & One Of A Kind Cinematography, May 29, 2006
MOVIE: The Proposition opens in the middle of an intense gunfight and we learn that it was actually an ambush set up to catch the ruthless Charlie and Mickey Burns. Two of three brothers who are part of the problem that Captain Stanley is trying to fix. The film is set during the 1800's in the Australian outback as Britain began to colonize the continent and basically throw the Australian Aboriganals into slavery. The story revolves around Captain Stanley (Ray Winstone) who is trying to "civilize" the land by ridding it of the murderous outlaws who plague it. So, he captures Charlie Burns (Guy Pearce) and Michael Burns (Richard Wilson) and offers Charlie a proposition. He wants him to set out into the outback to find his other brother, Arthur Burns. He feels that Arthur is the abomination who has the reputation of being a rapist and a murderer. He wants Charlie to kill is brother or his younger brother will be hanged on Christmas Day. The film is incredibly gritty, and incredibly violent. In fact, it's as violent as the crud that we see in horror movies these days. However, the violence is not used for gore's sake but rather in a realistic and effective manner that adds to the tone of the film. The characters are deeply fleshed out and the screenplay is absolutely amazing. The film has a distinct moral ambiguity, and that makes us as an audience have to decipher which of these characters are good or bad. To label a main character in this film would prove difficult since each of them goes through their individual journey. I suppose if you were to single out a main character then it would be Guy Pearce, but Ray Winstone's character almost has the same weight as Pearce's. They both go through a series of events that leads them to their own discoveries of who they really are in this mess. Who is right and who is wrong in this movie? Captain Stanley is ridding the land of crime, but in doing so he is taking over the land of the natives and creating hatred and intolerance towards them. Charlie Burns may be a bad guy, but he goes on a personal journey of loyalty to his family and comes to realize just who his family is in comparison to himself. Does this revalation make him a good person? The film presents lots of questions for the audience to ponder, which is why it is such a great film. This is not just a mindless shoot 'em up western, this movie requires an expression of thought on the audience's part. The problem with the film in my opinion was the pacing, which in turn leads to the editing. The film was poorly constructed and it didn't spend time where we needed to spend time. The film is told in a linear fashion, but scenes felt short and before you know it we're already progressing to the next scene. The film overall is an amazing experience though. Nick Cave's script is just marvelous, and his subtle and menacing musical score is brilliant. The film also boasts breathtaking cinematography, cinematography that would make Leone himself very proud. Color tones, extreme contrast, and extreme wideshots are also all used to perfection and they all relate directly to the story. Look for shifts in color and certain motifs that are used, it is really a feast for the eyes. ACTING: The film has an amazing cast. Guy Pearce (Memento), Ray Winstone (voice of Mr. Beaver in Narnia), Danny Huston (The Aviator), Emily Watson (Angela's Ashes), John Hurt (Alien, V For Vendetta), and David Wenham (Faramir from LOTR) all deliver amazing performances. They each craft their characters out so well that it makes the film incredibly interesting to watch. There isn't one weak link within the entire cast, they all have great performances. Truly a very great cast. BOTTOM LINE: Gritty, dirty, brutal, and intelligent. The film is a great morality tale about righteousness in human nature, and it has an amazing cast to deliver Nick Cave's amazing screenplay. John Hillcoat presents a great vision for the film, but his sense of direction is a tad bit unfocused. The poor editing also detracts from the impact the movie has on the audience. The film's brilliant cinematography is worth admission price alone though. See it if you can find it since it's a limited release, but if you can't find it at a theater then definately check it out on DVD.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Heart of Darkness, May 26, 2006
Brutal, dangerous, morally suspect, psychologically devious, John Hillcoat and Nick Cave's "The Proposition" begins with a gut-wrenching, viscerally effective scene of human carnage that signals a film with its own set of moral and social values. We are in Australia, circa 1880: a land set up by Mother England as a place to send its lawbreakers and a situation about which the native people, the Aborigines are none to happy. "The Proposition" is peopled with la crème de la crème of Brit/Aussie actors: Ray Winstone as Captain Stanley, the "Sheriff," Emily Watson as his wife Martha, Guy Pearce as the grizzled Charlie Burns and Danny Huston as Charlie's brother Arthur: a cryptic, God-like Colonel Kurtz who lords over a posse of family, friends and Aborigines. The Burns brothers are wanted criminals and when Charlie and his brother Mike are arrested, Captain Stanley proffers a Proposition to Charlie: kill your brother Arthur and I will release your brother Mike and expiate your crimes against the state. And so begins a biblical-era crime spree that rivals anything ever committed to film. There are scenes of great physical beauty here alternating with scenes of horror and carnage and it's the juxtaposition of the two that give this film its profound moral weight and ambiguity. "The Proposition" is a dry, arid, violent film: an often corrupt and anarchic film that prefers to stand back, watch, not pass moral judgement nor differentiate the good guys from the bad.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic Western!, September 22, 2006
This review is from: The Proposition . [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.4 Import - Australia ] (DVD)
Just finished watching The Proposition and I must say that it was everything that I had heard and more. It was a classic western with rich characterizations full of depth. The cinematography was beautiful and the story was fantastic. Ray Winstone and Emily Watson give powerful performances as the local Marshal/Sherrif and his pure and clean wife. Winstone is obsessed with bringing law and order to this frontier. This means bringing in a deadly gang of brothers lead by the evil oldest brother Arthur. He captures the middle and youngest brother and offers the middle brother Guy Pierce 'the proposition'. This is to save his young simple minded brother by killing his evil psychopath older brother. I found this movie to be gritty, dirty and very violent. But this is a gritty,dirty and violent time. I would recommend this movie to any fan of westerns from any generation and also any fan of good solid drama. I bought it new and after seeing it must say that it was a fantastic choice and a GREAT piece of filmaking.
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