No really, its a critics darling already! I like Nick Cave, as a singer. I had to admit the idea of him as a screenwriter seemed odd.

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1000596 ... oposition/

But apparently, he's done it before. He teamed up with the director from The Proposition previously to do Ghosts...of the Civil Dead, back in 1988. I've never heard of it. Has anyone seen it?

There's a great cast here to, and I guess anyone who could make a campy song about a group anticipating death must have some kind of knack for language.

- RT Synopsis

I've seen GHOSTS...OF THE CIVIL DEAD. It's set in a prison. It's a bit like HBO's OZ. But considering GHOSTS was made in 1988 it was a real head turner. Great little film that divulges what happens behind closed doors.

As for THE PROPOSITION, which is like DEADWOOD, with bit more of a raw feeling. Prepare for the violence, it's quite shocking. Performances are great.

...

This is what the Australian version of EBERT & ROEPER thought of the film:

http://www.abc.net.au/atthemovies/txt/s1474241.htm

The Proposition was solid.

I caught it a few weeks ago.

I want to see this one quite a bit. Guy Pearce has become one of my favorite actors. He's been in two 4 star movies already, and one is one of my all time favorites. He's also been in a few others that were solid as well.

Ebert & Roeper spoke very highly of it on their show...

Well, I just got back from seeing it.

I think its safe to say people who like Cave for certain reasons, will like Proposition for those very same reasons!

http://www.worldofkj.com/reviews/Galia/Proposition.php

What about people who have no idea who Cave is?

I'm sorry love, but that made no sense.

Did you like it, though? I'm looking forward to it.

Makes perfect sense. If I asked you to write a paragraph up on why you liked or disliked Nick Cave's music/lyrics, that paragraph would most likely be an apt description of the movie. Go ahead, try it and I'll see if I'm right.

If you haven't heard his music, Squee, that's ok. There's still very many reasons one would be drawn to this movie, but tonally, the themes, and at times even distinct word choice really reflect his style. It was a very tight movie, but direcotr and screenplay (Cave did the screenplay) heavy. One can really see its root.

Though Watson was a real standout amongst them all. Everyone did a good job. I liked it, but I don't want to give too much away until the review is up.

I actually don't listen to Nick Cave that much, so I don't really have an opinion on him.

Go ahead, sista! Analyze that!

You disdain all things Australian?

Actually, I would say if there's nothing appealing/repulsing about his music to you, that you'll probably enjoy the film, but not remember it half a year from now.

I guess I'll proceed since no one reads this anyways.

There's a fine line between a film that is poetic and one that is lyrical, and The Proposition is it. Its very fluid, well done, and really emphasizes atmosphere. There's a sense of decay that overruns the entire film. Its bloody as hell, and incredibly terse. Its also got some passages that pretend at being profound, but really aren't. Those tend to come from the chief antagonist though, so you realize the man is full of it, which is why his words ring hollow. Everything came together nicely, but the movie is so much about tone that its sometimes hard to get into.

Thats what I said about Cave's music. He's one of those guys that people appreciate, but not nearly as many of them listen to his music repetitively, or even own his albums. I only have one, and while I love a song or two on it, its a very hard album to get into. I still appreciate it though. Thats the film as well. I could definately see some very bored people in the theatre (I wasn't one of them) who were probably expecting a little more plot and a little less landscape to this Australian Anglo-Western. None of them left though. They felt compelled to finish off the film, which made me think they at least harbored some respect for it.

I liked this one.

A cold, dark observation on the compromises inherent in the interface between civilization and bloodlust. Well written, stylishly directed, and solidly acted by some old pros - The Proposition is a Western's Western.

5 out of 5.

I finally saw this today.

I'm having a hard time shaking it. It was a truly depressing film, but it's that good kind of depression you have when you know you've just been hit hard by art. It's two main themes - one's inability to seperate themself from their family ties no matter how much their family brings them down, and the brutalized nature of justice and law experienced back then - are very heavy, and executed in a manner that left me rocked to my core.

Despite the stark subject matter and the extremely graphic violence, the film is a beauty to behold. John Hillcoat has a sumptuous visual style that is perfect for this kind of film. He fills the screen with beautiful compositions, and the way he shoots violence is unique in it's simplicity. No rapid fire cutting here - Hillcoat's camera is unflinching.

The acting is uniformly excellent. The score is great, which is to be expected.

****

I think it's one of the most skillfully made films of last year -- and one of the biggest surprises for me.

The direction deserves awards. As does the cinematography. And score. And editing. (FYC!)

I was never a fan of the western, and even the much beloved revisioning Unforgiven didn't do anything for me, but consider me a fan if all those I haven't seen are in the same vein as this.

A very quiet, very violent, but ultimately lovely meditation on violence and loyalty.

A-