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38
12 Rounds Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed movies.
67
$9.99 Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed movies.
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Proposition, The
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MPAA RATING: R for strong grisly violence, and for language
Starring Tom Budge, Guy Pearce, Emily Watson, Ray Winstone, David Wenham, John Hurt, David Gulpilil, and Leah Purcell
Set against the harsh and unforgiving landscape of the 1880s Australian outback, The Proposition is a visually stunning tale of loyalty, revenge and the quest for justice in a land without rule. (First Look Pictures Releasing)
| GENRE(S): | Action | Crime | Drama | Foreign |
| WRITTEN BY: | Nick Cave |
| DIRECTED BY: | John Hillcoat |
| RELEASE DATE: |
DVD: September 19, 2006 Theatrical: May 5, 2006 |
| RUNNING TIME: | 104 minutes, Color |
| ORIGIN: | Australia / UK |
Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Original Music Score and Best Production Design, 2005 Australian Film Institute Awards
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
The average user rating for this movie is 8.3 (out of 10) based on 34 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
John P gave it a4:
Wow, what a waste of time. Half the movie (every 10 minutes to be exact) is the tedious exercise of watching Emily Watson's character mope her way through every scene; the look on her face a mix between whether she wants to cry or needs to use the bathroom. Way to drag a seemingly decent to a grinding trot. In Unforgiven, did Little Bill need some bland-wife character study around spending half the movie comatose and depressed in order to tell us absolutely nothing about Little Bill? No, but that's what's going on here with Ray Winstone. Enough Pulp Fiction-esque, "soul searching" monolouges from the characters to fulfill every college screenwriting nerd's wet dream. Another overrated artsy movie; watch The Long Riders instead if you want tormented outlaw brothers. Ugh. Where's the line to get my 2 hours back?
Simon gave it a1:
One of the most achingly slow and boring films i've sen in a long time, beautifully shot, but cold have been told in 30 mins!
Alex P gave it a10:
Better, more relevant and more real than all the trigger happy, gunslinging, sheriff hero excuses for a western film out there. If you like pistol duels at high noon try watching this to see what a real western with real characters should be like.
John B. gave it a9:
It took me a several times watching this movie, but I finally understand it. The Proposition is an amazing work of art that brings to attention the harshness of the land and the way it affected the lives of so many. In a land without law or justice, grand sweeping cinematic visuals paint a landscape captured perfectly. What makes The Proposition truly unique is the way motives clash and the plot weaves such a fascinating turn of events. You almost wish the characters could be more decisive in their actions but by contemplating things, we are allowed to fully understand the predicament each character faces. The Proposition almost plays out like a modern day Shakespearean tragedy. While I can see how this movie could be overwhelming at first, it deserves to be treated more like a work of art being viewed multiple times to fully grasp what is presented here.
Dan C. gave it an8:
An extremely good film with a harsh, unrelenting take on violence and the way it consumed good and bad people alike. It makes a very powerful impression.
Chad S. gave it an8:
"The Proposition" has one helluva flogging scene. As a meditation on violence, this one particular moment bests anything in Clint Eastwood's "Unforgiven". Up to this point, there was some concern on my part that the constant narrative shifts away from Charlie's journey might be hurting the film. And it does so in one important aspect; reaching his brothers' hideout doesn't seem much of an arduous undertaking, although the distance must be considerable. All that time compression hurts that epic feel that a film like Nicholas Roeg's "Walkabout" has. As Charlie (Guy Pearce) searches for his brothers to carry out some vigilante justice; back home, Martha (Emily Watson) discovers that she doesn't have the stomach for an "eye-for-an-eye, and tooth-for-a-tooth" way of doing things. The story of the sheriff and his wife is needed to show that even an outback needs the law. "The Proposition" is a beautiful, and brutal film.
Tim R gave it a5:
You know, the cinematography was impressive, the cast was well placed, and the setting was very tangible. Ray Winstone as Captain Stanley was, without question, the best part of this film ... his performance and delivery were continually intriguing. This is not to side step the other fine performances, mainly by Guy and Emily. My scoring is mostly due to distaste of the subject matter...it was VERY harsh, and very real in how it delivered the evil and disgusting side of sinful man. [***SPOILERS***] Perhaps I should rate it higher than, because it did such a “good job” of making me almost ill trying to take it all in, especially when half the scenes leave your mind still wondering, "what else happened. How did they do that evil thing. what might it look like..." etc. More of a western-style horror to me. “Tombstone”, this is my golden standard for a western. This movie adds nothing good to the imagination or spirit.
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