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The Proposition

Play trailer Poster for The Proposition R 2005 1h 44m Drama Action Western Play Trailer Watchlist
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86% Tomatometer 131 Reviews 85% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
In 1880s Australia, a lawman (Ray Winstone) offers renegade Charlie Burns (Guy Pearce) a difficult choice. In order to save his younger brother from the gallows, Charlie must hunt down and kill his older brother (Danny Huston), who is wanted for rape and murder. Venturing into one of the Outback's most inhospitable regions, Charlie faces a terrible moral dilemma that can end only in violence.
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The Proposition

The Proposition

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Critics Consensus

Brutal, unflinching, and violent, but thought-provoking and with excellent performances, this Australian western is the one of the best examples of the genre to come along in recent times.

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Critics Reviews

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J. R. Jones Chicago Reader 07/14/2022
Directed by John Hillcoat, this Aussie feature perfectly re-creates the charbroiled landscapes and cruel psychodrama of the old Sergio Leone westerns... Go to Full Review
Brian Tallerico UGO 03/24/2007
Any movie that can cling to your memory with as much brutal power as this fantastic film is unquestionably a proposition worth taking. Go to Full Review
Ben Walters Time Out 06/24/2006
A beautifully shot tracker's western that brings the Fordian poles of garden and desert to bear on the bushrangers' Outback, this is also a revenge drama of substantial horror. Go to Full Review
Patrick Cavanaugh The Wolfman Cometh Sep 11
5/5
A grim, grisly, and gorgeous spin on the Western genre. Go to Full Review
Evan Dossey Midwest Film Journal May 19
There’s only a shred of hope in The Proposition, and it almost comes too late, in too small a quantity. But it doesn’t feel, to me, like an exercise in misery. There is more on its mind. Go to Full Review
Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Feb 5
3.5/4
The Proposition brings to mind Australia’s Outback flicks from the 1970s, mood pieces in which philosophical renegades seek to come to terms with their own restless souls while navigating merciless and uncompromising territories. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Stephen C @bob25009 Jul 22 Success in 1 hour and 44 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated R for Strong Grisly Violence and Language!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $1,900,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Happy 20th anniversary!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more Robert C Jul 14 Almost fell asleep in the first 40 minutes. But the action and tension accelerate in the next 60 minutes I to a uniquely I interesting western tale. See more KURT G Jun 28 Drawn out at times, subpar script, average acting. A disappoint as the story had real potential. See more Gnoll R Apr 14 It was pretty slow. On top of that I basically figured out the ending in the first few minutes. Finally, it was one of those movies where they seemed to add elements just to make it offbeat. The score was strange and there were various odd things sprinkled in that didn’t really advance the story at all and just seemed out of place. See more John M Apr 2 Extremely long scenes with nothing happening, just a slow pan and depressing music. Unwatchable, after 40min I had to stop watching. See more Feb 9 Brutal and beautiful. The savagery of 19th century Australian outback is captured in this gritty and original western masterpiece. See more Read all reviews
The Proposition

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Movie Info

Synopsis In 1880s Australia, a lawman (Ray Winstone) offers renegade Charlie Burns (Guy Pearce) a difficult choice. In order to save his younger brother from the gallows, Charlie must hunt down and kill his older brother (Danny Huston), who is wanted for rape and murder. Venturing into one of the Outback's most inhospitable regions, Charlie faces a terrible moral dilemma that can end only in violence.
Director
John Hillcoat
Producer
Chris Brown, Cat Villiers, Chiara Menage, Jackie O'Sullivan
Screenwriter
Nick Cave
Production Co
Autonomouse, Surefire Films LLC, Jackie O Productions
Rating
R (Strong Grisly Violence|Language)
Genre
Drama, Action, Western
Original Language
English
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
May 5, 2006
Release Date (Streaming)
May 23, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$1.9M
Runtime
1h 44m
Sound Mix
Dolby
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