THE PROPOSITION

This is an Australian Western set in the late nineteenth century which, as one might expect given that it is written by Nick Cave, combines moments of brutality and rage with more meditative and melancholic interludes.

The plot centres around three criminal brothers headed up by psycho Arthur (Danny Huston in fine fettle).  The youngest, Mikey, is what can only be described as simple-minded. Caught between them is relatively sane and likeable Charlie (Guy Pearce). 

Ray Winstone is Captain Stanley, who is responsible for law and order.  Having captured Charlie and Mikey he comes up with the imaginative idea (or proposition) that Charlie should bring Arthur to justice within nine days in order to save Mikey from the gallows.

It’s a daft idea but perhaps the incessant heat has got to Stanley’s brain.

An obvious flaw in Stanley’s cunning plan is that Charlie and Arthur might team up to rescue Mikey, which indeed is what happens eventually. 

Before we get to that point there’s plenty of violence, some of it involving John Hurt, having a whale of a time as a bounty hunter.

Stanley himself is a guy under pressure from all sides.  Neither the men under him nor his superiors are much impressed with him letting Charlie go, nor his wife (played by Emily Watson) whose friend was raped and murdered by Arthur (and possibly other members of his gang).

As we reach the finale on Christmas Day thinks look bad for Stanley and his wife when Arthur and a gang member gate-crash their rather subdued lunch. Thankfully Charlie intervenes so that we get a happy ending of sorts in that Stanley and his wife just about survive.

It's all very well done, but I find this sort of thing rather predictable and depressing in its bleak depiction of people and society.  It certainly does nothing to encourage me to visit Australia.