The Proposition is a star cast led Western set in Australia in 1880's. It's about a gang of 3 lawless brothers on the run for rape and murder. Two get caught and handed over to Capt. Stanley (Ray Winstone). Brother Charlie (Guy Pearce) is practical and brother Mikey is a childish simpleton. Stanley wants to capture the third brother Arthur (Danny Huston) as he is the most dangerous and wanted of the 3 so offers a deal to Charlie. If he finds and murders Arthur his brother Mikey will be spared from his Xmas day hanging. Charlie sets out to do the deed unsure whether he can see it through.
This is an incredibly bloody film which on the whole works well but is let down by some performances. It is superbly directed by John Hillcoat who together with writer Nick Cave have created a vision of true menace and lawlessness. The cinematography is superb too and with many beautiful panoramic scenescapes of the Australian outback.
In terms of performances, Danny Huston is great as the ruthless brother and Guy Pearce equips himself well as the most moral of the brothers. You genuinely feel the strain of the burden he is under. It is the two major English actors that let this down (no disrespect to Emily Watson playing Stanley's wife who is also a major English actor but does well here).
The two are incredibly contrasting performances. Ray Winstone is so understated he may has well have not turned up at all. I personally am getting a little tired of him phoning in performances. Where are the glory days of Sexy Beast or Nil By Mouth? This certainly is not one of his finest and he comes across as wooden and characterless.
Secondly, and almost more disappointingly, is John Hurt as the menacing bounty hunter Charlie encounters along his journey. His performance is one of the most hammy I've seen in a long time. Utterly over-the-top and unbelieveable. One has come to expect greatness from Hurt and is only disappointing by his growling thesp here.
Shame that these 2 let down what could have been a marvellous film.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Production Year: 1971 - Westerns - Director: Richard Benedict, Douglas Heyes, Leslie Martinson - Original Language: English - Classification: Parental Guidance - Starring: Ben Murphy, Pete Duel
Based on a screenplay from Nick Cave,The Propositionis a slow, thoughtful, brutal and ... more
diligent western, that rightly mopped up numerous awards back in its native Australia.It starts when Ray Winstones Captain Stanley makes an unpopular deal with a much...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Based on a screenplay from Nick Cave,The Propositionis a slow, thoughtful, brutal and ... more
diligent western, that rightly mopped up numerous awards back in its native Australia.It starts when Ray Winstones Captain Stanley makes an unpopular deal with a much...
Postage & Packaging: free Super Saver Delivery Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
In the harsh, unforgiving landscape of the Outback, Charlie Burns (Guy Pearce) is ... more
presented with an impossible proposition by local law enforcer Captain Stanley (Ray Winstone). To save his younger brother Mikey from the gallows he must track down and k...
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
harlequin21 31.03.2007 (31.03.2007)
·
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of The Proposition (DVD)
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
harlequin21 31.03.2007 (31.03.2007)
·
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of The Proposition (DVD)
Advantages: Oscar-winning performance by Jane Fonda, Sutherland's fine performance Disadvantages: Cinematography doesn't hold up well, could have used some tightening
eve6kicksass 04.05.2007 (04.05.2007)
·
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Klute (DVD)
Are you the manufacturer / provider of The Proposition (DVD)? Click here
![The Proposition [DVD] [2006]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78476910.jpg "The Proposition [DVD] [2006]")
Oct 19th, 2009
very helpful by (100%):
