The Proposition (R)

This is the way westerns are supposed to be: violent and angry with some great characters. Although it is not set in the American West, it's setting of the Australian Frontier in the 1800s is exactly the same. As the movie opens, we join a gun-battle in progress as Charlie Burns (Guy Pearce) and Mike Burns (Richard Wilson) are captured by Captain Stanley (Ray Winstone). The Burns boys are two members of the Burns gang, an Irish band of villains pillaging their way through the Australian frontier. Arthur Burns (Danny Huston), their brother, is the ringleader, the most vicious of the three, and is still at large. Captain Stanley explains to Charlie that his little brother, Mike, will be hanged on Christmas Day. However, he has a proposition: "You want me to kill me brother", Charlie says, "I want you to kill your brother.", Stanley responds, and this sets off a chain of events that challenges the character and moral compass of everyone involved. The writing is terrific and there are so many quotable lines. Pearce and Winstone give fantastic performances as two men who are never sure they are doing the right thing. Huston gives a layered performance as a man loyal to his family and especially ruthless when he decides to be. There is one particularly rough sequence when a flogging is ordered due to pressure of the county and the townspeople in which the bloodthirsty mob finds themselves disgusted when they get what they want. The story takes you down many morally twisted roads, without preaching as to what is the right thing to do. This is probably the best western since "Unforgiven", which mines some of the same territory. "The Proposition" also contains elements of old-school westerns like "High Noon". This is strongly recommended for lovers of westerns. Others may enjoy it, also, as it is very well done.

Grade: B+


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