Whilst by no means a terrible movie, The Proposition adds nothing to an already done-to-death genre, namely Westerns.The plot is thin and could have made an acceptable TV episode, but instead its spun out into a movie with the addition of pointless travelogue songs and the occasional (not occasional enough!) bouts of philosophy and drivel spouted by some of the characters.The backstory to the characters is almost non-existent. We are told they are a band of ruthless outlaws and degenerates and their crimes are hinted at, but never shown. This is at odds with the rest of the movie, which gleefully shows the effects of violence with gusto.None of the characters are particularly likable, which leads the viewer to not really care one way or the other whether they live or die. And, when you don't care about the characters, it's hard to care about the movie as a whole.The Proposition is slow, uneven and filled with well...filler. At the end, I was glad it was finished so that I could go and get on with something more interesting and rewarding.SUMMARY: Tedious and unsatisfying. Watch Unforgiven, or Deadwood for more visceral and intelligent Western drama. This one is really not worth the effort.

The Outback, as well as "The Proposition," is just as punishing and unforgiving as the men who roam it -- and it's savagely entertaining. The film takes all the familiar ingredients of the Western with an Aussie spin. Unlike your typical Western movies, it's much darker, downbeat, and brutally violent. Set in rural Australia in the late nineteenth century, Charlie Burns (Guy Pearce) is a criminal living in the outback. He and his two brothers, Arthur (Danny Huston) and Mikey (Richard Wilson), are outlaws wanted for rape and murder. Arthur is a violent and dangerous cold-blooded sociopath, much more so than his siblings, and is wanted by the law. The authorities capture Charlie and Mikey after a bloody shootout, and the brothers are handed over to Captain Stanley (Ray Winstone), a British lawman sent to Australia to help bring order to the colonies. The Captain's proposition to Charlie is to gain a pardon for both of the brothers, by tracking down the elusive Arthur and killing him. Charlie scours the backwaters of Australia, but isn't certain if he can carry out his mission. A movie you cannot turn away from; heartless and uncompromising, filled with disregard to innocence and civility.One of the strengths of "The Proposition" is its relentless moral ambiguity. Characters that would be heroic in more conventional Western movies show their darker sides here. It's a tough and uncompromising story, but it's superbly written, features terrific acting on all fronts, and its beautiful cinematography captures this desolate landscape where only the strongest survive.

The Aussies have made some great movies. One with a seemingly simple plot and few actors would be The Interview.This movie has a simple plot, few actors, and the great outback as a backdrop. And for me, that's all it has.Slow. Predictable. Revenge movie.Guy Pearce couldn't save this one. Ray Winstone is seldom very good. The others were adequate, but not memorable.The script had nothing to offer.The storytelling was basic, and jumped a few times.I wanted to at least give it six, but couldn't.

looking at the other titles IMDb users also liked, hardly any of those movies compare. this film is not a cheesy western like 3:10 to Yuma or a good western like Apaloosa. this has a western theme to it but it is way more than that. this type of film will entertain any person looking for fantastic performances and characters. all in all the movie has much more substance than the typical, modern western type movie. the film is dark, suspenseful and has moments of great dialogue. my pick for another solid ARTISTIC western, THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES by the COWARD ROBERT FORD. yes the cast has some big names that may turn off some people but it is awesome. enjoy!