The Proposition

With The Proposition, screenwriter Nick Cave and director John Hillcoat have effectively created an anti-Western; though the landscape is familiar, there’s little else here that can easily be associated with the genre (a John Wayne flick this is not). The problem emerges when it becomes clear that Cave and Hillcoat have inexplicably chosen to eschew an actual storyline in favor of ambiance – a choice that only becomes more problematic as the film progresses. The film stars Guy Pearce as an outlaw named Charlie Burns, who is blackmailed by local lawman Captain Stanley (Ray Winstone) into bringing his older brother (played by Danny Huston) back from the countryside to face justice. The Proposition is, obviously, extremely stylish and atmospheric, but the bottom line is that the film just isn’t terribly interesting. This is despite some awfully entertaining performances, including expectedly effective turns from Pearce, Winstone, and Huston – along with a bizarre cameo appearance by John Hurt. And while there are a few intriguing moments sprinkled throughout The Proposition‘s running time, this is generally an exercise in frustration (ie by all rights, this should’ve been an engaging, gritty little flick).

** out of ****