The Proposition
Ned from Wicklow, 05 Feb 2007
A searing look at life, love and loyalty and the brutality that confronts man when living at the edge of civilisation.
The brilliant Ray Winstone plays a conflicted, emotionally damaged policeman who, on capturing two of three outlaw brothers, puts the titular proposition to Guy Pearce - find and kill your older brother or your younger brother hangs on Christmas day.
Great acting and photography make for an atmospheric and uncompromising film. A modern genre classic, not for the faint hearted.
Great movie all round
John from Dublin, 03 May 2008
Probably the best movie I've rented from screenclick. The story revolves around a gang of Irish outlaws in early australian frontier times. Great visuals,camera work and tone-setting music by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. The acting is brilliant and the story is interesting as well as very thought provoking. Definitely not run-of-the-mill and may be slow in some small parts but is worth the wait. Very much recommended.
VB
Hazel from Dublin, 09 Jul 2008
Just when you thought Guy Pearse couldn't get any skinnier or dishevelled, along he comes in the Proposition, as one of a band of Australian bushrangers causing havoc in the harsh frontier towns of the outback. The film conveys the dust, dryness and wild frontier feeling of the time very well; Emily Watson provides a very good contrast as the constable's wife, trying to bring a little civilisation to the outback
Gritty, hard viewing in parts but excellent
Aisling from Kilkenny, 04 Jun 2008
This western is so realistic you can practically taste the dust. A tale of lawlessness, loyalty, love and choices based on a trio of Irish brothers and the man charged to bring them to task. Good plot and story telling, brilliantly filmed. Not the easiest to watch in parts as violent scenes pretty graphic and the incessant buzzing of flies none too pleasant but adds to atmosphere. Gripping, highly recommended.
Average
Maggie from Mayo, 03 Aug 2008
Aussie "western" nicely filmed. Some very stiff acting even if you allow for the social conventions of that time. The main characters were OK except for the policeman who sounded like he was reading from a piece of card the whole time. The baddies turn into the underdog heroes in this film, until you find out that they can't live up to it in the end. Pretty predictable all the way through. Average film.