Reviews

The Proposition - New to DVD

If the Oscars weren’t total bullshit we would have already been hearing buzz about The Proposition. To be blunt this movie is fucking gorgeous. The Proposition makes the western both filthy and poetic. The dialogue flows as fluidly as lyrics from one of Nick Cave’s songs.

To be completely fair I probably wouldn’t have picked up The Proposition had it not been written by Nick Cave. I’m just not that into the western genre. I am, however a Nick Cave fan. What I was expecting was… well… a vanity project. Cave has an amazing music career and is a published author, so why not make a film. When it comes to The Proposition Cave doesn’t showcase himself, he showcases his talent.

I’ve never heard music like this in a western before. Not like listening to Nick Cave though it’s clearly him. The low rumbling bass, guitar screeches and whispering fits the somber mood perfectly. In a way the music isn’t there to fill a need of the film but to help tell the story.

What do you want to know about the acting? Perfect. You’ll feel more like a witness to a crime than a member of the audience. This movie sweats nothing but grit and blood. Everything is written with human nature and not just forwarding the plot. The acting complements this and the viewer is rewarded with one of the best movies to come out this year. So much attention to detail went into making The Proposition that the costumes were all handmade including the buttons.

I almost forgot to fill you in on the plot… and a damn fine plot it is. Days before Christmas two outlaw brothers are captured by Captain Stanley, played by Ray Winstone. One of the brothers, Charlie Burns (Guy Pearce) is given a proposition. In order to save his sibling, Mike Burns (Richard Wilson) he will need to kill the eldest and most violent of his brothers, Arthur Burns (Danny Huston). The three Burns Brothers used to run together as a gang but split ways after a violent attack on a frontier family. Arthur Burns was the leader of their gang and his reputation is notorious. No one can capture him, most are afraid to even attempt it. The plot is simple but much like Chan-Wook Park and his “Vengeance” films the focus is more on repercussions of ones actions.

The Proposition is to Westerns what Apocalypse Now was to war movies. Nothing could make The Proposition a better movie. Rent it to see for yourself then buy a copy for your collection.

10/10
Andy

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