The 2005 Australian western The Proposition (which takes place in the nineteenth century) begins with the opening credits unspooling along with historic photos of that era being shown beside them, while a childlike voice sings a sadly eerie lilt and then. . . boom! – we are thrown into a frenetic firefight. This extremely unique opening captures the pace of the film; jarring clashes of violence followed by melancholic sadness and loneliness, or vice versa.
The shootout at the beginning finds Captain Stanley (Ray Winstone) and his fellow officers closing in on two of the three leading members of the Burns gang, wild card middle child Charlie (Guy Pearce) and the dim-witted youngest brother Mike (Richard Wilson). They have committed an atrocious crime to beloved members of the community. It is a visually visceral scene, with light seeping in through the uncountable bullet holes found in the wood structure as the outlaws try to fend off the law. The criminal gang lose the skirmish and Stanley gives Charlie a proposition (which simply describes the plot of the film and its title): track down and bring in eldest brother (and criminal leader) Arthur (Danny Huston) or they hang Mike on Christmas – in nine short days.
Charlie heads out into the dangerous wilds of the desert, looking for the rock formations that his brother and fellow criminals are supposedly using for their lair. While searching the sand-covered locale, he stumbles upon a building with a dead body and a drunken bounty hunter named Jellon Lamb (John Hurt), a racist, who, despite his inebriated state, is quite sharp. The quick draw is looking for outlaws hiding out in the craggy surroundings – clearly unaware that he is talking to one of them. Charlie soon subdues the man and heads up to find his brother.
Meanwhile, Stanley has his own problems, as his superior, Eden Fletcher (David Wenham – The Lord of the Rings) is calling his practices into question. The townspeople are equally as dismayed, wanting Mike to be punished for the vile actions he helped commit. Just as disturbing is the lack of support Stanley is getting from his subordinates, which leads to one of them leaking the deal (he made with Charlie) to the general public – which further causes an uproar with both the masses as well as Fletcher.
Eventually, the two storylines come to a bloody head, leading to one heck of a chaotic collision.
The Proposition, written by Nick Cave (who also co-wrote the music with Warren Ellis) and directed by John Hillcoat (The Road), is a wonderfully executed motion picture. It colourfully depicts life in the Australian wild. It is harsh, secluded, lonely, and at times, unbelievably violent. The film draws us in to this horrid world of criminals, bandits, and betrayal, making us watch in equal parts awe and dismay at the picturesque landscapes and the harsh brutality of those living in it.
At its heart is Ray Winstone’s performance, a nuanced portrayal that visualizes a good man who made a difficult and bad decision. It is impressive to watch him struggle to juggle all of the proverbial balls – having to deal with his lonesome wife Martha (Emily Watson), the weaselly dandy that is Fletcher, as well as the unthankful and bloodthirsty townspeople – and that is not including his struggles to curb the vicious criminals that surround the area. Likewise, Guy Pearce puts forth a brilliant two-sided performance, speaking with a thick Irish brogue – we can understand the confounding situation he is in, even if we cannot justify his vile actions. He is tired of all of the violence, but also has a blood-bond to his family who thrive on the chaos. Danny Huston has a creepy aura surrounding his performance, feeling as though there is an animalistic danger just below the flowery vocal facade. John Hurt must also be mentioned as he throws everything he has into this bit part – he is energetic, eloquent, exuberant and over-the-top in all of the right ways.
It is amazing how intense the violence feels despite the fact that much of it takes place off screen. Though we usually do not see the knife enter the body, it is just as unsettling. One example is when we know a man is being beaten in the next room, yet the criminal sidekick chats in an orthodox fashion with the guy’s wife – making for one disturbing watch.
Like many a British movie, you will not find a cheery finale. As in real life, there are equal measures of good and bad, with the dial maybe even tipping over to the dark side. Though it may be frustrating to some, it will likely be a breath of fresh air for those who are tired of the same old Hollywood ending. So make the right choice and watch this unique Australian western, it is well worth it.