Surprisingly good Australian version of a “Western”, written by Nick Cave.
“The Proposition” (John Hillcoat)
The Proposition
Aussie director John Hillcoat helmed this gripping, epic-scale Western set in the thick of the 1880s outback. When no-nonsense lawman Capt. Stanley (Ray Winstone) apprehends the notorious Charlie Burns (Guy Pearce) and his younger sibling, Mikey (Richard Wilson), Stanley makes Charlie an unsavory proposition: If he murders his outlaw brother, Arthur (Danny Huston), Mikey will escape the hangman's noose. Emily Watson plays Stanley's genteel wife.
I have a basic grasp of Australian history, but no claim to a deep understanding of Aboriginal-Anglo relations. Not really a political film, even though that's a strand, as much as a meditation on sunsets, impotence and rage.
Nick Cave should write more screenplays.
Why is it that Guy Pearce is always playing weird roles of mixed values, or is this just an impression? I guess an impression for I have seen only two of his films, L.A. Confidential and Memento. This one seems to have aan exciting premise. Maybe we will go to the movies after all.
Seth,
A movie I'd recommend if you haven't seen it is: Nicolas Roeg's "Walkabout" Mind you, its been ~28 years since I've seen it, but it does tell the tale of two cultures colliding - aboriginal/"civilization"
I haven't seen Walkabout, but it was in my Netflix queue. I just moved it up the list.