The Proposition (2005)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

John Hillcoat

Writer:

Nick Cave (screenplay)

Release Date:

6 October 2005 (Australia)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Western

Tagline:

This land will be civilized.

Plot:

A lawman apprehends a notorious outlaw and gives him 9 days to kill his older brother, or else they'll execute his younger brother.

Plot Keywords:

Gang | Outlaw | Australia | Racism | Revenge

Awards:

13 wins & 24 nominations

Cast

Richard Wilson	...	Mike Burns
Noah Taylor	...	Brian O'Leary
Jeremy Madrona	...	Asian Prostitute
Jae Mamuyac	...	Asian Prostitute
Guy Pearce	...	Charlie Burns
Mick Roughan	...	Mad Jack Bradshaw
Shane Watt	...	John Gordon
Ray Winstone	...	Captain Stanley
Robert Morgan	...	Sergeant Lawrence
David Gulpilil	...	Jacko
Bryan Probets	...	Officer Dunn
Oliver Ackland	...	Patrick Hopkins
Danny Huston	...	Arthur Burns
David Vallon	...	Tom Cox
Daniel Parker	...	Henry Clark

MPAA:

Rated R for strong grisly violence, and for language.

Runtime:

104 min | Canada:104 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

Australia | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:MA | UK:18 | USA:R | New Zealand:R16 | Ireland:16 | Sweden:15 | Finland:K-15 | Norway:15 | Hong Kong:IIB | Netherlands:16 (DVD rating) | Portugal:M/16 | Germany:16 | Argentina:13 | Singapore:M18 | France:-16

Filming Locations:

Queensland, Australia

Company:

UK Film Council

Trivia:

Originally, John Hillcoat approached Nick Cave about doing the soundtrack for a Western, eventually he asked if Cave would write the screenplay as well.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Although the story takes place in the 1880s, Jellon sings "Danny Boy" - which wasn't published until 1913.

Quotes:

Arthur Burns: Love. Love is the key. Love and family. For what are night and day, the sun, the moon, the stars without love, and those you love around you? What could be more hollow than to die alone, unloved?

Soundtrack:

There Is a Happy Land

A great Australian movie

Put simply this is the best Australian movie I have seen for years. A so-called Australian Western this is uniquely Australian and a must see for both Australian audiences and international audiences who would have no idea what living in early 'civilised' Australia must have been like. Well acted with top internationally recognized talent (Pearce and Winstone are fantastic), beautiful landscapes, and a violent yet somewhat beautiful and (again) unique story, I hope this movie is seen well beyond the Art-house, and I hope there is adequate marketing because this movie is so much better than the run-of-the-mill stuff we usually see in the cinema.