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The Proposition
The Proposition
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The Proposition

The Proposition

2005
Drama, Crime
1h 44m
Aussie director John Hillcoat helmed this gripping, epic-scale Western set in the thick of the 1880s outback. When no-nonsense lawman Capt. Stanley (Ray Winstone) apprehends the notorious Charlie Burns (Guy Pearce) and his younger sibling, Mikey (Richard Wilson), Stanley makes Charlie an unsavory proposition: If he murders his outlaw brother, Arthur (Danny Huston), Mikey will escape the hangman's noose. Emily Watson plays Stanley's genteel wife.

The Proposition

2005
Drama, Crime
1h 44m
Your probable score
Avg Percentile 62.51% from 1911 total ratings

Ratings & Reviews

(1919)
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Rated 23 Dec 2009
90
91st
Brutal western that doesn't glorify the Australian outback and it's near-lawlessness during the late 19th century. A fantastic cast, with Guy Pearce as a semi-reformed outlaw and Ray Winstone as a lawman trying to do what is best in such harsh conditions. An absolute must see for any western fan or film enthusiast in general.
Rated 10 Sep 2008
95
95th
An interesting showcase for the versatility of its genre. This is Pearce descending into hell, meeting his double, and having to kill it for personal redemption for past sins. Basically every other western, but with a remarkable brutality. Without getting too symbolic, flies are attracted to characters like death and shit; nobody's likable. If you don't like them, that's probably why.
Rated 17 May 2022
80
77th
Fantastic acting. Including by the flies. There is a small Heart of Darkness thread to this - a journey into Hobbesian wildness. Rough as gravel and moody, but contemplatively serene (in moments). Top drawer.
Rated 26 Aug 2011
85
86th
There sure are a lot of flies in the outback.
Rated 26 May 2011
87
93rd
Seriously high class and brutal western set in an uncompromising vision of the Aussie outback. Hillcoat's direction is very pretty, but also stark and harsh. The whole cast do a very good job, with Pearce in particular outstanding. Where "The Proposition" really wins out however is in the strength of its script and in the interplay between the complex and intriguing characters. Musical score was excellent too, but no surprise there considering Nick Cave was involved!
Rated 10 Apr 2010
88
75th
The Proposition is perhaps the most raw, grisly, unflinching, brutal, intense and relevant western of the decade. The full-blown gorgeous cinematography is complemented by the complex yet unlikeable and trashy characters and the original yet horrific plotline. The harsh conditions within the Australian Outback at this time really effects the outcome of the plot and the redemptious aspects of the personalities in the film. Epic.
Rated 16 Mar 2008
89
90th
A western that ranks among the all-time greats of the genre, and one of the best films of 2006. The movie is raw and unflinching. Characters are so deep and flawed that Cave leaves no one to root for, and it doesn't matter. Pearce and Winstone are both excellent, as is Hurt as an old bounty hunter, but Australia itself is the real star here: it hangs on the sweaty faces of every character; it stretches their sunburnt skin to leather, and its hellish beauty fills every frame.
Rated 07 Mar 2007
4
70th
Exceedingly brutal, but in this case, form follows function, and the bloodshed acts not as a stylistic device but as a method of conveying the brutality of the characters it involves, as well as the dog-eat-dog nature of the setting. This movie cannot be said to have a hero; no character is innocent, and each has their own points of sympathy. This ambiguity of morality is done in a haunting manner; it's one of the most haunting pictures I've seen in recent years.
Rated 17 Apr 2012
67
54th
Clint Eastwood never made a movie this gritty. I needed a shower afterwards.
Rated 15 Feb 2012
70
64th
Overall Enjoyment: 25/40, Plot/Themes: 15/20, Cinematography/Direction: 15/20, Acting/Writing: 15/20 An interesting take on the Western set in Australia. Contains a lot of non-typical roles for a Western that create for some interesting dynamics. Overall ends up being somewhat predictable, but still a solid watch.
Rated 18 Jan 2012
75
81st
I didn't know before watching it, but this film was written by Nick Cave of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. This instantly made it cooler. He also did the music for the film, which is, of course, fantastic. I liked it. It was quite slow and with minimal action, which I thought worked really well. The action was great and uncompromising when it did happen though. Good film.
Rated 07 Sep 2011
80
86th
Solid filmmaking. Reminds me a little of Terence Malick.
Rated 16 Nov 2010
9
90th
Memorable westerns are a rarity these days, as this genre is sadly enough standing on its last legs which is why I wouldn't want to adjoin a heap of superlatives to this brutal, unflinching western but this is one great film in the vein of Eastwood's/Leone's finest works. Shades of fortitude prevail, albeit no hero we can really root for. Corrupt yet conscience driven characters, all of whom seem to carry out their own agenda, make up the gorgeously photographed Australian outback. Recommended.
Rated 03 Nov 2009
79
74th
An often overlooked film. Ray Winstone is pretty amazing, and he could carry this movie by himself. Not much of an action movie, to tell the truth, so don't watch it if you're hoping for Wild West style gun fights, though there are some moments. All and all, full of great dialogue and some pretty amazing shots of Australia.
Rated 23 Aug 2009
91
98th
ONE OF THE BEST AND MOST REALISTIC WESTERN I HAVE EVER SEEN. GREAT MOVIE!
Rated 16 Jul 2009
90
66th
Really well made. The only problem is that there was no publicity for this film, so I have no one with whom I can discuss it.
Rated 08 Feb 2009
84
72nd
Basically, the definition of "badass." Just a very well crafted film in all respects, though not exactly my cup of tea. I can't get enough of those crazy John Hurt supporting roles though! Props to the fly trainer.
Rated 01 Feb 2009
84
85th
a badass post-Unforgiven western, very ambiguous and bloody. wonderful cinematography and soundtrack
Rated 12 Sep 2008
90
92nd
Hypnotical and brilliant Aussie western with great cinematography and a brilliant soundtrack.
Rated 22 Dec 2007
47
19th
Mind-blowingly average and boring. Ray Winstone's lawman was the only character with any depth. Everyone else is wasted with a bizarrely pointless script. Cinematography can sometimes save middling movies. Not this time.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
86
61st
Gritty, vicious, and satisfyingly ponderous (and a great soundtrack). Does a great job portraying a gang of crooks who are simultaneously charismatic and irredeemably vile.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
73
62nd
This movie disappointed me so much (and I wasn't even hyping it before seeing it). EVERYTHING about it was just phenomenal. Everything, that is, except for the story. The pacing of the story was awful, and they probably could've cut out the middle of the movie and it wouldn't have suffered. That said, it's one of the most beautiful (aesthetically) movies I've seen in a long time. The acting was great, the scenery was good, all of it. But damnit, the story.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
65
22nd
Yeah, this just didn't work for me. I didn't care for the pace of the script, and Emma Watson's blank stare made me furious. However, the sound effects, make-up and cinematography are all fillet.
Rated 30 Apr 2007
75
54th
gruff australians being gruff and australian
Rated 21 Mar 2007
89
83rd
This is one of the most interesting westerns to come along in many years. Stellar performances mixed with some of the best cinematography I've ever seen make The Proposition an excellent film for anyone to see.
Rated 26 Feb 2007
82
85th
A gritty and realistic western not unlike Unforgiven in many ways (e.g. complex characters, horrific rather than glorified violence). The western genre translates very well into Australia. I'm very impressed with Drake's script (and his music!), with the fine performances (especially Winstone, Hurt, and Wenham), and with the gorgeous cinematography.
Rated 24 Jan 2007
7
84th
Jarringly brutal, bloody, and gritty Western. Not "fun" to watch in the same way as many other Westerns, but a hell of an original vision.
Rated 02 Mar 2023
82
79th
A really strong, thoughtful and well acted western in the vein of things like Unforgiven and No Country for Old Men. Winstone is especially good, and John Hurt steals every scene he's in. Brutal and underrated. The sound design and music give it a feel that is sometimes hypnotic. There's some action, but it's not an action western, so don't watch if that's what you're looking for. Really good.
Rated 19 Feb 2023
60
16th
It gets points for being beautifully shot... but the script was all over the place. The 'proposition' itself functioned as a plot device to have certain people in certain places, rather than as a driver of the narrative with meaningful consequences. I'm not given reasons to identify with the characters and the main events of the plot feel unearned as a result.
Rated 25 Jun 2022
65
46th
I like revenge movies, but this one is kind of a slow slog. It's mostly saved by some wonderful performances, the one most sticking with me being that of Ray Winstone. His characters shifts in your perspective once you actually get to know him and he was the one I was most invested in watching. Otherwise, it's brutal and ugly (in the way its meant to be ugly) and while I think it could have been shorter, it was still an interesting addition both to the western genre as well as a revenge movie.
Rated 07 Jan 2022
45
35th
I liked the concept, but not the casting or the heavy handed sepiatone highpass filter effects. Like a lot of things Nick Cave does, came off like a bookish suburban 5th grader’s idea of edgy masculinity. Good for him, I reckon - there’s a market for that; it just isn’t me.
Rated 11 Mar 2020
91
97th
Seen: 2.
Rated 21 Sep 2018
50
9th
Meh... this movie is too generic for me. There were some beautiful landscape shots but ... what was this about again?
Rated 15 Aug 2018
70
30th
Nice scenery, but aside from the captain played by Ray Winstone, I never came around to care about the characters or any of the supposed emotional conflict between the brothers - there's very little meaningful interaction between them, even though that's supposed to be the core conflict driving the story.
Rated 01 May 2017
80
85th
The Proposition is a harsh, brutal Australian western, from a screenplay written by Nick Cave. It serves as an insight into Australia's violent past, as well as an exploration of brotherly love and family loyalty. Not to be missed.
Rated 29 Dec 2016
89
57th
The Proposition is a harsh, gritty and dirty hellish journey into one family's cycle of violence and a country's early years of settlement and class displacement. Shot as equally sweltering as the Australian desert landscape, the film features a stirringly dark and ambient musical score by Nick Cave who also does a fine job with the script. Not for the faint hearted, The Proposition to this day remains John Hillcoat's finest work.
Rated 22 Mar 2015
68
32nd
Flawed and lacking, but still rather spectacular because of some great directing, which allowed for some nifty cinematography and editing. Yet this stylish neo-Western grottiness covers up the mild storyline, and though there are other characters to focus on, Pearce's central character doesn't seem thuggish and isn't that well acted. I would like such fantastic dressing for a different film, one with a more refined script (despite some good lines here and there).
Rated 16 Mar 2015
50
35th
eng; [the proposition]; ein mann wird vor die wahl gestellt, entweder er tötet seinen verbrecherischen bruder oder sein kleiner bruder wird gehängt.;
Rated 31 Aug 2014
65
71st
Unsettling, violent Australian western with a touch of surrealism by Hillcoat and Nick Cave (yes, musician), who have a working relationship for two decades already, and it works great, from what I've seen. It touches morality and justice in a very effective way, but I find their latter collaboration - Lawless more entertaining and captivating. Fucking white people are pure evil, aren't they...
Rated 26 Aug 2014
70
69th
Nicely shot, very atmospheric but there's not much to back it up. With pearce being the exception, most characters are badly casted, danny huston is super flat and uncharismatic, trying sort of a brando-apocalypse routine that's painful to watch. Winstone does nothing except tear up a lot, and i can't help but think of emily watson as one of the most annoying screen presences to date. The plot itself is appealing, but, without spoiling too much, there are some weird choices.
Rated 25 Aug 2014
85
63rd
The film that neither Nick Cave nor John Hillcoat has even touched since. Pearce's Hollywood hiatus did him wonders.
Rated 16 May 2014
50
45th
I propose everyone in this film take a bath.
Rated 09 Mar 2014
75
61st
A pretty gritty outback affair with some western flair. The sunsets and dust are regularly stained with blood and violent acts that provide a grisly viewing spectacle, but sadly aren't shaded with enough character depth to really generate the hard hit they intend to.
Rated 27 Oct 2012
74
77th
Over-the-top violence, poetry and raw performances elevate Hillcoat/Cave's vision of a sunny and bloody time before Christmas, in a landscape where there seems to be no room for humanity -- maybe only for brotherhood bonds. And, well, they still matter -- for better or worse.
Rated 15 May 2012
72
81st
Maybe it loves violence a little too much and cares too little about characters but in the end it's a rather thrilling ride.
Rated 06 Apr 2012
95
94th
This movie blew me away. The gritty, aweful setting is orchestrated malevolently with a remarkable cast.
Rated 10 Mar 2012
87
94th
As westerns go (and I haven't seen a lot of them) this film is one of the best I've seen. Hillcoat paints a brutal and lawless picture of 1880s Australia. And at no point is the film really boring. The cast does a good job. I in particular liked John Hurt's performance.
Rated 19 Jan 2012
7
73rd
This gripping violent western set in the Australian outback is full of Interesting, complex characters and beautiful cinematography with a satisfactory ending.
Rated 20 Nov 2011
87
35th
Good colours, good atmosphere. Too much of the music, the atmosphere, too few handles to grab to see what is actually going on. Mystical.
Rated 29 Sep 2011
93
96th
A moment, please, while I remove all this gristle from my soul...
Rated 17 Apr 2011
75
83rd
Nick Cave penned this Australian Western that examines the brutal realities behind the lawless west in the untapped potential of a precolonized Australia. Guy Pearce, Ray Winstone and Emily Watson all give tremendous performances as part of a dynamic ensemble cast. While the film tends to plod through its 100 minute narrative, the awesome cinematography and gripping conclusion make up for it.
Rated 16 Mar 2011
90
85th
Half way through this movie I paused it and was like "holy hell, who wrote this?" Nick fuckin' Cave. I couldn't be happier.
Rated 13 Feb 2011
83
69th
Violently beautiful.
Rated 13 Feb 2011
75
73rd
This dark psychological western is as stark and brutal as the Australian Outback it Is set in.None of the characters, except the wife of Captain Stanley is particularly a sympathetic character.They all dwell on the fine line between bad and just morally ambiguous.The cinematography, acting and music are all very good.The only negative I have about this film is that there's no back story to the brothers relationship to explain why Charlie would want to except the proposition.
Rated 02 Feb 2011
70
71st
Brutal as its rural landscape! Winstone and Pearce are magnificent!
Rated 08 Jan 2011
80
55th
excellent 4*
Rated 22 Dec 2010
91
69th
The cast was brilliant, have to give the big props to danny huston though, brings so much depth to his character. its great when in a movie, only few words really need be said and yet cavalcades of emotion are behind every syllable and hiding amidst every waft of silence. I realize, that sounds like artistic babble, but with a movie so engrained with emotion and grief, how else can it sound when describing it?
Rated 04 Dec 2010
95
95th
One of the best western movies of the 00's, that takes place in a grim and dirty looking colonial Australia. Really good script, awesome performances, the music is perfect and also the picture is amazing.
Rated 26 Oct 2010
88
35th
A little more background would have been interesting.
Rated 24 Oct 2010
35
90th
"A revisionist Western coated in flies, mud, and sweat that exudes an appreciation for, and fearful awe of, the near-mythic savagery that stands as enlightened society's vicious antipode." - Nick Schager
Rated 19 Sep 2010
55
50th
Not that I think the cinematography in this was that bad, but it seems funny that people only seem to mention "great cinematography" when it's a movie with vistas and sunsets. Is that all it takes? Anyway, this movie is alright. John Hurt gives maybe the most over the top performance I've ever seen. Damn, he was ACTING!
Rated 17 Sep 2010
3
68th
Slow and brutal.
Rated 01 Sep 2010
85
70th
Shockingly good. Makes me wish there was as strong a tradition of Australian Westerns as American.
Rated 11 Aug 2010
8
86th
I want to see a prequel of John Hurt's asshole old man character. Also, Jesus Christ does Australia have a lot of fucking bugs.
Rated 07 Aug 2010
92
83rd
Genius movie with one of the best soundtracks in a long time. By far the best film of 2005 though it wasn't the best of years.
Rated 25 Jul 2010
78
68th
A western movie set in Australia is one of those ideas you would say "Why hasn't it been done already?" The movie achieved to use the outback's special landscape in a consistent way to mesh with a poetic story. a tad bit overdramatized maybe, but Nick Cave produced a great script, complemented with great acting all over. I'm a Nick Cave fan and though I didn't like his last two albums the score of this music is fantastic. Besides it makes you understand better some bizarre aspects of his art
Rated 23 Jul 2010
79
54th
I am convinced that another forty minutes would have solved all of its problems.
Rated 08 Jul 2010
50
32nd
Mean, and morally ugly. I did like "Abattoir Blues", though.
Rated 18 Jun 2010
74
71st
A poor man's 'Assassination of Jesse James'
Rated 31 May 2010
76
69th
Brutal Western set down under with violence that is at times unbearable. Good cast, photography and score.
Rated 27 May 2010
8
79th
I wish more westerns were made now and as good as this one. Intense and absolutely brutal. Brilliant casting in Hillcoat's unblinking look at the outback.
Rated 29 Apr 2010
82
72nd
nice bit of cinema, good characters well acted with good storyline and music. Oh, and you get to see a spear thrown into a guy.
Rated 27 Apr 2010
60
64th
Really good film but can be quite slow.
Rated 26 Apr 2010
80
68th
Brutal but satisfying western that happens to be set in Ozland. Also starring a lot of flies. I am pleasantly reminded of _Mad Max_. Huston as the bandit leader in particular reminds me of Hugh Keays-Byrne as The Toecutter in that film; I asked Huston if he was deliberately echoing performance. He denies it, but I wonder
Rated 09 Apr 2010
91
83rd
masterpiece! haunting soundtrack! a simple ethical question gives birth the best story i've seen in years
Rated 03 Mar 2010
51
9th
Grim, ponderous & violent, The Proposition carries itself like a Meaningful Film, a brutal statement about the founding of a nation inhabited by criminals. But its ideas are all superficial, & its imagery is as blunt as the instruments with which the characters whack each other. The camera lavishes attention on the fold & creases of John Hurt's neck, the dots of bath-water on Emily Watson's shoulder, and, consistently, the smudges of blood on everyone's faces and hands. It's a wallow in ugliness
Rated 21 Feb 2010
8
82nd
Surreal and dark. Hillcoat's Proposition doesn't aid in the revitalization of the western, but that doesn't matter. It's grim and vile, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Would Peckinpah be proud?
Rated 14 Jan 2010
80
61st
A very good, very violent western with a great cast.
Rated 04 Jan 2010
90
78th
I really enjoyed the contrast of the the stunning beauty of the Australian outback and the gritty brutality of what it was to live there during that time. Excellent cinematography, a wonderful and unique score, strong acting and a compelling story made this a movie that will stick in my head for quite some time.
Rated 17 Nov 2009
82
67th
Superb visuals that blend beautiful landscapes with the gritty grimy realities that the film examines. While there are some powerful scenes and interesting characters, the film's organization undermines the unity of these aspects. The story is split in two and while the narrative connections are clear the thematic ones are less so and we never get enough of a sense of these characters to give the actions in the film the weight they deserve.
Rated 05 Nov 2009
94
91st
One of the best and dirtiest western I've seen in years. Nick Cave's score is amazing and made this Movie even better. Awesome in many ways.
Rated 23 Aug 2009
60
60th
Fantastic performances by everyone in the cast, a fitting soundtrack, and great cinematography. The Proposition comes up a bit short, however, as the pacing is damn near coma inducing. Some weird editing makes it more confusing than it needs to be in certain spots. Good thing the story is somewhat interesting or else I wouldn't have made it though.
Rated 09 Aug 2009
95
98th
A very brutal but compelling Western. This might be the closest we'll ever have to a film that captures what makes Blood Merdian the best Western novel of all time.
Rated 06 Aug 2009
88
85th
Definitely the best western to be release in at least the last ten years. John Hillcoat's direction is absolutely uncompromising and all the performances (especially Winstone) stand out.
Rated 09 Jul 2009
60
62nd
the story is pretty lame, the soundtrack is great, the scenery is amazing
Rated 30 Mar 2009
85
44th
A very good "oater" from down-under. Recommended.
Rated 25 Feb 2009
64
35th
Interesting movie worth watching, nice to look at, unusual music, but too melodramatic and heavy handed.
Rated 09 Feb 2009
88
80th
Stunning cinematography and creation of mood. It feels so otherworldly and haunting. Certainly captivating. Not quite sure I understand the Ray Winstone character, but perhaps I'm not supposed to
Rated 05 Feb 2009
65
47th
Engaging thanks to the peculiar, cool soundtrack and a pretty unconventional structure, but not very interesting.
Rated 18 Aug 2008
73
28th
Something about this just didn't click with me. I mean, not to the extent that it does with many others. The music and cinematography is great, but the story drags. I marvelled that it was actually less than two hours. It felt like three. Still, it's engaging and handled well.
Rated 06 Aug 2008
15
7th
Why does it not surprise me that Nick Cave's script is just as dull as most of his music?
Rated 23 Jul 2008
92
76th
Excellent in every regard.
Rated 20 Jul 2008
90
88th
Great, great modern western. Great cinematography, editing, and an awesome score by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis.
Rated 29 May 2008
90
97th
Taking the western genre and putting it in Austrailia turns out to be a good thing, a very good modern western.
Rated 28 Apr 2008
36
16th
Unpleasant and uninteresting.
Rated 26 Feb 2008
50
2nd
Overly slow Western that isn't particularly engaging.
Rated 13 Nov 2007
30
7th
- not worth your time
Rated 16 Sep 2007
80
89th
Not perfect, but very good western.
Rated 16 Sep 2007
95
92nd
Critty western set in the Australian Outback. What's there not to like, great directing, great cast and great writing by Nick Cave. This movie proves those wrong who called the Unforgiven the last true western.
Rated 19 Aug 2007
99
97th
I just have to briefly comment on what Critiker member "Moribunny" says about this movie: "Why does it not surprise me that Nick Cave's script is just as trite as most of his music?" Huh?

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