Rent The Proposition (2005)

Brutal portrayal of a period of Australian history - The Proposition review by CP Customer

Some very violent moments warrant the 18 certificate but a good film if you can stomach it. A story of contrasts, from Emily Watson's upper class wife pouring the tea into bone china cups, to the savage racism heaped upon the native Aborigines. Guy Pearce is understated yet convincing as the brother who is supposed to murder a member of his family in order to save another.

Great 'Austern' - The Proposition review by CM

An excellent film, where the landscape is a major player. Obligations, family, brutal racism, moral relativism, in this beautifully made tale of the civilising of Australia, with civilisation giving itself unwarranted airs. Brutal & atmospheric; the viewer can almost taste the dust & smell the blood.

A shocking, visceral & bloody Western, stunningly remastered in 4K - The Proposition review by TB

Another incredible restoration, this time expertly done by the BFI for 4K Blu-ray.

The Proposition is set in Australia & tells the story of a ruthless gang, The Burns gang, and whose estranged members Charlie & Mikey are captured by burnt-out and emotionally extinguished Captain Stanley. Stanley is desperate to catch the psychotic leader Arthur Burns, who among many heinous acts oversaw the rape, murder & mutilation of a family, including the pregnant wife. As Arthur is feared & untouchable in many ways, Stanley offers Charlie a deal: he & his brother Mikey (who is extremely developmentally challenged/childlike) will be pardoned if Charlie kills & brings back Arthur to Stanley. However, this deal causes outrage amongst the Outback community that Stanley serves and sets in motion a series of brutal and bloody events...

When I first watched this film in 2006, I was much younger & didn't relate to it that much, despite being gripped at times. Now, 18 years later, it's impact is like a sledgehammer. Front & center is the look of the film: shot on location in the Outback, every sunset bathes your eyes in stunning colour, before being followed by heat that is so horrific & oppressive, you almost start to sweat. The cinematography here is masterful & on its own another character in the story.

Much attention & praise has also been given to the huge care & authenticity of the depiction of Australian/indigenous Aboriginals. The other cast are also superb, not one performance not ringing true. Winstone in particular, much in the same way as in Sexy Beast, totally subverts the archetypical caricature of how he is mostly seen. Morris Stanley looks like a man who is on the verge of either a total breakdown or heatstroke: an ex-serviceman whose humanity was destroyed on the battlefield & then whose soul was roasted to a crisp Down Under. Guy Pearce is also incredible as the man who knows he is a monster & tries everything to repay some of the debt he has built up over years of criminality & violence.

And finally, the story itself is great. And one of the main reasons for this is quite simple: there is not an ounce of fat on this film. It is a fantastically directed, tight & perfectly paced film. And welcomingly, it doesn't mess up the ending or give any easy answers. The world those characters exist in is a violent, dangerous & brutal one, where innocence is lost & life is grindingly difficult.

A gripping watch