The Proposition

2005
R
1h 44m

IMDb RATING

7.3/10

56K

YOUR RATING

Play trailer2:16

8 Videos

99 Photos

Costume Drama Dark Comedy Period Drama Crime Drama Western

A lawman apprehends a notorious outlaw and gives him nine days to kill his older brother, or else they'll execute his younger brother.A lawman apprehends a notorious outlaw and gives him nine days to kill his older brother, or else they'll execute his younger brother.A lawman apprehends a notorious outlaw and gives him nine days to kill his older brother, or else they'll execute his younger brother.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.3/10

56K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 14 wins & 30 nominations

Videos8

Trailer 2:16

Official Trailer

Clip 1:16

The Proposition Scene: Scene 2

Clip 1:16

The Proposition Scene: Scene 2

Clip 0:58

The Proposition Scene: Scene 5

Clip 0:59

The Proposition Scene: Scene 3

Clip 0:51

The Proposition Scene: Scene 1

Clip 0:47

The Proposition Scene: Scene 7

Photos99

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
In a 2018 interview, Guy Pearce said that this is his favorite of all of the movies he's ever done.

Goofs
Although the story takes place in the 1880s, Jellon sings "Danny Boy" - which wasn't published until 1913.

Quotes
Arthur Burns: Love. Love is the key. Love and family. For what are night and day, the sun, the moon, the stars without love, and those you love around you? What could be more hollow than to die alone, unloved?

Crazy credits
The opening credits are shown first against a background of period photographs of Australia, which after a time become photographs of the actors/characters, locations and scenes in the film. The end credits are similarly displayed, but only period photographs are used. This is of special note in view of the noted disclaimer, since some indigenous aboriginal groups can be offended by such images.

Connections
Featured in Siskel & Ebert: The Black Dahlia/The Gridiron Gang/Everyone's Hero/Haven (2006)

Soundtracks
There Is a Happy Land
(1850)
Traditional
Music by Leonard P. Breedlove (uncredited) (1850)
Words by Andrew Young (1838)
Arranged by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis

User reviews280

Review

Featured review

9/10

Leone meets Tarkovsky meets Patrick White meets Mad Max

Just superb - wonderful, austere direction that gets the best from a great cast and some extraordinary landscapes. A tight, disciplined script from Nick Cave that's testament to how his writing continues to reach new levels - not to mention his collaboration with Warren Ellis on the beautifully uneasy score.

There's a fantastic blend of European and Australian sensibilities here that makes this the least clichéd film to come out of this country for 20-odd years - and if it doesn't do well, it'll be because an increasingly soft and gutless nation is afraid to venture out of their frappuccino and mortgage comfort zone.

This is powerful, worthy art.