The Proposition (2005)

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

Director:

John Hillcoat

Writer:

Nick Cave (screenplay)

Stars:

Ray Winstone, Guy Pearce, Emily Watson

13 wins & 30 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

Rural Australia in the late nineteenth century: Capt. Stanley and his men capture two of the three Burns brothers, Charlie and Mike. Their gang is held responsible for attacking the Hopkins farm, raping pregnant Mrs. Hopkins and murdering the whole family. Arthur Burns, the eldest brother and the gang's mastermind, remains on the loose and has retreated to a mountain hideout. Capt. Stanley's proposition to Charlie is to gain pardon and - more importantly - save his beloved younger brother Mike from the gallows by finding and killing Arthur within nine days.

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Plot Keywords:

gang | hideout | outlaw | aborigine | foreboding | 

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Taglines:

Written by Nick Cave directed by John Hillcoat

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Western

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong grisly violence, and for language

Details

Official Sites:

Bodega Films [France]

Country:

Australia UK

Language:

English Aboriginal

Release Date:

9 June 2006 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Proposition

Filming Locations:

Queensland, Australia

Box Office

Budget:

$2,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$215,987 (Australia), 14 October 2005, Limited Release

Opening Weekend USA:

$62,723, 19 May 2006, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$1,900,725, 10 September 2006

Company Credits

Production Co:

UK Film Council, Surefire Film Productions, Autonomous

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Screenwriter Nick Cave finished the script in three weeks.

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Goofs

When the captain takes a drink, he takes the bottle cap off and sets it beside the bottle on the right side of the desk and pours his drink. In the next instant the cap is in his left hand as he caps the bottle.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Captain Stanley: Do I need to introduce myself?
Charlie Burns: I know who you are.
Captain Stanley: Good. I know who you are.

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Connections

Referenced in Deadpool 2 (2018)

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Soundtracks

Peggy Gordon
Music Traditional
Words Traditional

User Reviews

Aussie Western makes Tombstone look like Paradise.

Nick Cave's essay in the true and tried Western format, shows how a harsh land (Colonial Australia) brutalizes the men who try and conquer it. Yet this tale has passages of lyricism that counterpoint the sudden moments of savagery. It is a very gritty often grisly picture of 19th Century Australia, warts and all, right down to swarms of blowflies. Perhaps the sadistic violence gets a bit over the top especially towards the end, but thanks to a fine cast, crisp direction, and the scorched cinematography it generally works. A standout performance in a minor role by John Hurt rather steals the show, while Ray Winstone and Emily Watson are particularly sensitive together. One suspects the harsh conditions are somewhat overstated for dramatic purposes, though the story is supposedly based on fact. Tombstone Territory never looked as unpleasant as this. It is certainly one of the most interesting period dramas made in Australia.