The Proposition
By Mal Simons, Blockbuster.co.uk

“Now, suppose I told you there was a way to save your little brother Mikey from the noose. Suppose I gave you a horse and a gun. Suppose, Mr. Burns, I was to give both you and your young brother Mikey, here, a pardon. Suppose I said that I could give you the chance to expunge the guilt beneath which you so clearly labour. Suppose I gave you till Christmas. Now, suppose you tell me what it is I want from you.” - Captain Stanley

“You want me to kill me brother.” - Charlie
“I want you to kill your brother.” – Captain Stanley

Ray Winstone, Guy Pearce and Emily Watson star in this brilliant Australian western. Guy Pearce stars as Charlie Burns, a former outlaw captured in the Australian outback along with his brother Mikey. Charlie is freed by Police Captain Stanley (played magnificently by Ray Winstone), who makes a deal with him; Charlie must kill his older brother Arthur who is still raping, murdering and pillaging the local townsfolk or Stanley will execute his younger brother. If Charlie does this then he and his younger brother Mikey will receive a pardon and be free to go on their way. In essence, for one brother to live, another must die.

Making his way into the Australian outback to find his older brother Arthur, Charlie is attacked and wounded by an Aboriginie tribe. He is only saved when Arthur and his gang arrives and helps him. Now healing in the camp and surrounded by the gang, will Charlie be able to kill the brother that cares for him so much? You’ll have to rent this and see!

Based on a script by Aussie Indie king Nick Cave, this is one of the most beautiful movies set in the Australian outback you are ever likely to see. Every fly, grain of sand and breathtaking sunset is committed to film. This allows the audience to see how desolate and isolated the characters are in the no-mans land which sets the scene and is an important part of the story. At this time in Australian history, the colonists were in the process of hunting down the Aboriginal natives by killing them or making them slaves – this film shows some of this but never strays too much from the central plot so doesn’t become too preachy like other Australian films set around the same time period.

The Proposition feautures an amazing cast – especially Ray Winstone, a brilliant character actor who’s performance as Captain Stanley is one of his finest to date. Although technically the film’s lead, Guy Pearce takes a back seat to most of the story developments and does what he does best by playing more of a supporting role – he is still pivotal to the story but Winstone gets the majority of the screen time - but this is why the film is so great! Other stars include Danny Huston, Emily Watson, David Wenham, Leah Purcell and British legend John Hurt who plays a very small but excellent part as a bounty hunter. Everyone in this film is perfect!

By far the best thing about the film is that there are no obvious good guys and bad guys – all are shades of grey with both good and bad traits to their character. Ray Winstone for instance should be the villain of the film – asking one brother to kill another is very, well ‘Cain and Abel’ (The Bible). But through the course of the movie, we learn more about this British Captain, his belief in justice, his love for his English wife and more of his positive attributes. By the end of the film, the audience will be torn between the Captain and Michael Burns.

Overall, this is a tremendous movie – sylish, compelling, gripping and at times quite moving. There is a lot of violence but it is done in the right way to progress the story and to be honest about what the Australian outback was really like. Don’t let the fact that this is a western put you off either – there is plenty here to keep everyone interested – it’s a top a thriller and a film that will stay with you for a long time. Add to your list now!