The Proposition DVD > Reviews

Advantages: Excellent acting; unique and bizarre; great direction, music, editing and visuals; flawless period piece
Disadvantages: Slightly weak narrative; not really anchored by a character; not for the light-hearted

The Western has long ridden off into the sunset, last seen in 1991 with Clint Eastwood's Unforgiven ... and it has not really returned, aside from the occasional one-off, such as Open Range. All the same, the Western has become a thing of the past, and they were symbolic of mid last century, classics, and would indeed be difficult to resurrect with the same gusto and charisma they used to have. But quietly edging its way in is the Proposition. It's ... Read review

Advantages: Good Quality Acting
Disadvantages: None Really

The film starts straight off and we meet Charlie (Guy Pearce) and Mikey Burns (Richard Wilson) who are under fire. People who are fighting back are getting shot down. Charlie and Mike are soon captured where they meet Captain Stanley (Ray Winstone). He informs them they will hang for the murder and rape they committed at the Hopkins house. But he is willing to grant them a pardon as long as Charlie finds their oldest brother Arthur (Danny Huston) ... Read review

Advantages: Loevly cinematography, great performances, strong writing and atmosphere
Disadvantages: Prog rock leanings of the soundtrack

...captured at a shootout in the Australian outback. But their captor Captain Stanley is more interested in catching their elder brother Arthur, a dangerous psychopath responsible for the massacre of a local family. So he offers Charlie a choice; turn in Arthur, or see his younger, simple-minded sibling Mike die on the gallows on Christmas day. Blood may be thicker than water, but can a man really choose between his brothers? Australian director John ... Read review