Review of The Proposition (2005) by Deseree H — 07 Dec 2012

Three brothers and one big dilemma. Soaked with violence this film was superbly executed. The cast was fantastic playing their roles down to a tee, the whole film is given a grubby, sweaty, dirty feel which justly portrays Australia. Its dusty sandy wilderness and hot haze.

Guy Pearce's character is given an ultimatium to kill his eldest brother(Danny Houston) so his youngest sibling is spared from the noose. What transpires is brutality and violence.

We have Ray Winstone and his wife Emily Watson trying to live out their life but not quite the adjusted to Australia's harsh ways from England's civilisedness.

John Hurt's drunken bounty hunter was a brilliantly acted with some great lines. Was funny his screen time with Guy Pearce.

David Wenham's Authority figure was the only character in my opinion that was out of place. Seemed too clean, his voice whiny and too wimpish to be part of this volent world. Although his character held a very good contrast and presented some problems for Ray's Captain and wife.

The Aboriginals were very very dirty people or they were shown that way in this. Or the term ''blacks'' is used.

The violence was very graphic and the gore and blood scarily realistic. One scene that stood out was Guy getting skewered by a spear then directly after an Aborigine getting his head blown off.

Which pretty much sums up the film, sudden, fast-paced dirty and grubby. When it gets to its brutal conclusion your left with a feeling that perhaps the ending should feel like an ending. Good study though.