The Proposition (2005) ****1/2
I first saw The Proposition (2005) when it had limited theatrical screenings in the U.S. in 2006 and it immediately became one of my favorite westerns. I've seen (and bought) it on three home video formats since then (DVD, Blu-ray, and 4K UHD) and the film has lost none of its power. I can confidently say that it's my favorite (what some consider an anti- or revisionist) western of the past 20 years.
The Proposition features a lyrical screenplay by Nick Cave, an inhospitable atmosphere via the Australian Outback, tasteful yet unflinching direction by John Hillcoat, poetic performances from an outstanding cast (including Guy Pearce, Ray Winstone, Danny Huston, John Hurt, David Wenham, and Emily Watson), and a wonderfully experimental score by Cave and Warren Ellis (which holds its own outside of the film). All these elements (and more) meld together beautifully in this brutal tale of vengeance, family, colonialism, and machismo to make The Proposition a truly affecting experience.
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