The Proposition

Name: The Proposition
Genre: Drama, Crime, Western
Released: May 5, 2006
Duration: 104 min
Rating: 73
Cast: Guy Pearce, Ray Winstone

2006

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 31 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 99 Ratings

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8.0	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 99 Ratings

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The Proposition

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Movie Details & Credits

First Look International | Release Date: May 5, 2006 | R

Starring: Guy Pearce, Ray Winstone

Summary: Set against the harsh and unforgiving landscape of the 1880s Australian outback, The Proposition is a visually stunning tale of loyalty, revenge and the quest for justice in a land without rule. (First Look Pictures Releasing)

Director: John Hillcoat

Genre(s): Drama, Crime, Western

Rating: R

Runtime: 104 min

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Critic Reviews

100

J.R. Jones

Directed by John Hillcoat, this Aussie feature perfectly re-creates the charbroiled landscapes and cruel psychodrama of the old Sergio Leone westerns, with John Hurt particularly fine as a raging old mountain goat. Read full review

Paula Nechak

In the end, this is a film about retribution and justice within unjust circumstances. Each character has a personal code of honor -- Arthur, Charlie and Capt. Stanley are all given their dignity -- and it's that code that sets the film apart. Read full review

Ty Burr

A near-masterpiece of mood and menace, and one that deserves to be seen on the largest screen possible. Read full review

Ruthe Stein

A spellbinding Australian Western. Read full review

Peter Rainer

The veteran rock musician Nick Cave wrote the screenplay and John Hillcoat directed, both somewhat in thrall to Sam Peckinpah. The bonds of family are the centerpiece of this highly uneven, hyperviolent film. Read full review

Manohla Dargis

The cast of The Proposition is reason enough to see the film. Read full review

Noel Murray

The sketchily symbolic characters and flat plot just frame an atmosphere of sticky heat and Biblical reckoning. Read full review

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User Reviews

PhilS.

May 2, 2006

brilliant. Engaging, beautiful and arresting all in the same breath.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Battlejuice

Jul 18, 2006

Fantastic film. Very harsh and brutal yet flowed with an almost fairy-tale quality where good and bad blended into grey to the haunting tunes of Nick Cave. I found there was a supernatural feel to this film on top of the harsh wild world that was colonial Australia. Magnificent.

0 of 1 users found this helpful

JonathanH.

Jun 3, 2006

An excellent film, especially when viewed in a movie house. Visually stunning and a good story too.

1 of 1 users found this helpful

DanC.

Jan 4, 2007

An extremely good film with a harsh, unrelenting take on violence and the way it consumed good and bad people alike. It makes a very powerful impression.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

PaulH.

Jun 15, 2006

A worthy addition to the Western canon..The script is excellent in parts as is some of the acting-and yet that is only half the story for the movie is let down by some characters who are terrible stereotypes and who take much away from the drama and realism of this film.Cave's A worthy addition to the Western canon..The script is excellent in parts as is some of the acting-and yet that is only half the story for the movie is let down by some characters who are terrible stereotypes and who take much away from the drama and realism of this film.Cave's soundtrack is memorable and i for one love the references to Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid. Not as sensational or as bad as some would have you believe but still worth a look… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Voodoo123

Apr 28, 2022

Decidedly average western set in 1880's Australia. The cast and production is great but the plot and screenplay was lacking anything special in such an oversaturated genre as this. Can't say the music worked for me. Definitely worth a look.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Simon

May 4, 2008

One of the most achingly slow and boring films i've sen in a long time, beautifully shot, but cold have been told in 30 mins!

1 of 2 users found this helpful

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