Summary
- The Proposition
delves into Australia’s brutal history with British colonization, showcasing a Mars-like Outback reminiscent of the Old West. - Nick Cave’s ethereal script and whimsical score make the film an arthouse gem that challenges the traditional Western genre.
- The realistic depiction of Indigenous Australian culture and harsh colonial treatment sets
The Proposition
apart as a brutal and accurate frontier film.
As a huge fan of both films and Australian cinema, I can’t help but be captivated by “The Proposition.” This movie takes us on a raw and unforgettable journey into Australia’s brutal past during the transition from penal colony to British settlement. Nick Cave, an iconic Australian musician and screenwriter, masterfully crafted this ethereal Western that challenges the genre’s traditional norms with his haunting script and enchanting score.
I was captivated by how “The Proposition” portrayed Australia’s transformation from a penal colony in the 1820s to a permanent British settlement, with an intent to control this seemingly barren continent. Nick Cave, both screenwriter and rock musician, brought to life this era, just two decades prior to Australian independence, when the Outback bore striking similarities to the Old West of the same time. Lawmen and outlaws clashed against a backdrop that blended a Mars-like terrain with towns that mirrored their American counterparts.
Captain Morris Stanley, played by Ray Winstone, expresses his confusion early in the film with the statement, “Ah Australia, what new form of hell is this?” From the outset, it’s clear that “The Proposition” (2005) isn’t a typical Australian Western. Instead, Cave’s imaginative script and quirky soundtrack push the film into the realm of art house cinema. The impressive ensemble cast, featuring Guy Pearce, Winstone, Emily Watson, and John Hurt, further solidifies this classification. “The Proposition” revolutionized 2000s Westerns in a way that “Unforgiven” (1992) did for the ’90s, demonstrating that the genre had evolved to provide more opportunities for acting performances than just shootouts.
The Proposition and the Mind of Nick Cave
To fully appreciate the film, it’s essential to delve into the thoughts of Nick Cave, an Australian musician and the mastermind behind Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, established in 1983. Hailing from Victoria, a southeastern Australian state, Cave gained international recognition by the ’90s with his unique brand of music. His creative prowess continues to shine through as he tours extensively and collaborates with Warren Ellis on film scores. However, Cave’s groundbreaking debut in screenwriting serves as a testament to his unlimited artistic abilities.
The thought-provoking 2016 film “One More Time with Feeling” offered insights into Nick Cave’s unconventional existence. Known as the “Vampire” by his spouse, Cave is a prolific artist who seldom slumbers, effortlessly producing acclaimed bands such as Grinderman and The Birthday Party. He is revered as a cultural icon, having been awarded Officer of the Order of Australia in 2017. Nevertheless, “The Proposition” might represent his magnum opus – blending music, literature, and historical commentary on his native land to explore existential themes in a Western style.
The Proposition Is Full of Great Action Sequences
The film’s poetic quality conceals a hidden, ominous side, which disrupts tranquil moments in the Outback with sharp spears and violent explosions. Director John Hillcoat, who had previously worked with Cave on music videos, maintains an action-packed pace for the movie, despite its heavy reliance on dialogue. Following a shootout with local law enforcement, brothers Charlie Burns (Pearce) and Mike are taken into custody. The police captain, Morris Stanley, presents Charlie with a proposal: to locate their elusive older brother Arthur (Huston), who has managed to evade capture by bush trackers and bounty hunters.
The Aboriginal community in the region believes that Arthur has magical powers, such as growing ears and transforming into a dog. He is quite formidable and has taken refuge among outlaws and members of local tribes in the harsh Outback. Charlie is terrified of him and, along with his younger brother, Mike, they flee from their gang. Now, they are on a mission to locate Arthur and eliminate the threat. If they don’t succeed, they could lose their freedom – or face even graver consequences.
The Proposition Is a Realistic Western
In the movie, John Hurt portrays the role of Jellon Lamb, an elder settler who provides crucial background information in just one scene. As the protagonist Arthur encounters him on his quest to locate his older brother, Lamb represents the prejudiced settlers trying to claim the land. Many of these settlers had originally arrived as convicts. Lamb’s words hint at the superiority of their white privilege over the native inhabitants and harsh environment, which resonates strongly with the concept of Manifest Destiny. Essentially, this film sets the stage just as effectively for exploring themes of colonialism and frontier life as many American Westerns do.
The film does not hold back in depicting the harshness of the treatment of local Aboriginal tribes, one of the darkest legacies of British Imperialism. The Proposition is regarded as uncommonly accurate in depicting Indigenous Australian culture of the late 19th century, with Aboriginal actors David Gulpilil, Tom E. Lewis, and Leah Purcell giving moving performances. The Proposition is unflinching, unforgiving, and unnerving in its remembrance of all the harshness of colonization throughout the world, a completely novel approach to the Western genre. Stream The Proposition on AppleTV+.
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2024-07-22 03:01