The Proposition (2005)

Ray Winstone plays Capt. Stanley, who’s determined to bring civilization to a remote area in Australia, even if those he’s serving and those he’s working with don’t act very civilized.

Guy Pearce plays Charlie Burns, part of Burns gang accused of murdering a family and raping the pregnant wife. In the opening scene, he’s captured by Stanley along with his younger brother Mike.

But they aren’t the prey at the top of Stanley’s list. That person would be Arthur Burns, their older brother. He lives like a recluse in a cave with the rest of his outlaw gang, but becomes a vicious murderer when he leaves it.

So Stanley offers Charlie a proposition: Bring in his brother dead in nine days, and he and his younger brother will be pardoned.

Refuse or fail in that mission, and the younger brother will be hanged on Christmas day.

Charlie accepts, but can he really turn on his own family?

Guy Pearce as Charlie Burns in The Proposition (2005)

Ray Winstone as Capt. Stanley in The Proposition (2005)

Review:

Effective film, even if it does seem excessively violent at times.

Particularly interesting is the relationship between Stanley and his wife Martha. He’s torn by his duties and tormented by the public perception of the job he’s doing. He tries to protect Martha from the harsh realities of the new world in which they live, but finds himself putting distance between them as a result.

Among the more memorable scenes is the whipping of young Mike Burns. Since Stanley is perceived as being too soft on Mike, an official demands 100 lashes for the youngster, and the public turns out to watch.

His prescribed punishment isn’t even half complete when most have left, tuned off by seeing the lad’s back carved to pieces.

Danny Huston as Arthur Burns in The Proposition (2005)

Richard Wilson as Mike Burns in The Proposition (2005)

Directed by:
John Hillcoat

Cast:
Guy Pearce … Charlie Burns
Ray Winstone … Capt. Stanley
Richard Wilson … Mike Burns
Emily Watson … Martha Stanley
Danny Huston … Arthur Burns
David Wenham … Eden Fletcher
Tom Budge … Samuel Stoat
Tom E. Lewis … Two Bob
John Hurt … Jellon Lamb
Robert Morgan … Sgt. Lawrence

Runtime: 104 min.

Emily Watson as Martha Stanley in The Proposition (2005)

John Hurt as Jellon Lamb in The Proposition (2005)

Memorable lines:

Capt. Stanley: “I will civilize this land.”

Capt. Stanley: “Australia. What fresh hell is this?”

Charlie Burns: “Do you pray, Mr. Lamb?”
Bounty hunter Jellon Lamb: “Good Lord, son, no, I do not. I was, in days gone by, a believer. But alas, I came to this beleaguered land, and the God in me just … evaporated.”

Bounty hunter Jellon Lamb: “What is an Irishman, but a n—-r turned inside out.”

Samuel Stoat: “What’s a misanthrope, Arthur?”
Two Bob: “Some bugger who f–kin’ hates every other bugger.”
Samuel: “Hey, I didn’t ask you, you black bastard.”
Arthur Burns: “He’s right, Samuel. A misanthrope is one who hates humanity.”
Samuel Stote: “Is that what we are, misanthropes?”
Arthur: “Good Lord, no. We’re a family.”

Tom E. Lewis as Two Bob in The Proposition (2005)

Tom Budge as Samuel Sloat in The Proposition (2005)

Robert Morgan as Sgt. Lawrence in The Proposition (2005)

David Wenham as Eden Fletcher in The Proposition (2005)

David Wenham as Eden Fletcher in The Proposition (2005)