I had not heard of this film as it wasn't a mainstream Hollywood release (or I just plain missed it, but given my penchant for zooming through commercials that wouldn't be surprising). I've always thought that Guy Pearce was one of the top actors that gets no recognition and he did not disappoint in this film. The movie is set in 1800's Australia. The country at that time was almost completely lawless and attracted scoundrels from all over the world (not to mention being a dumping ground for English criminals). An incident happens where a brother is offered a deal to save one of his brothers from death. The film was dark and gritty and rather colorless. That said, I often enjoy these kinds of movies and I definitely enjoyed this one.

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Is a western set in Australia actually a western? Whatever the case may be, "The Proposition" certainly fits this description. Typical elements, such as lawless gangs, lawmen, and the role of indigenous people, are present. After a rather generic start, the movie actually becomes quite interesting as it progresses. The whole production is quite different from its western counterparts. There are some great camera shots, and a few well-placed spikes of violence break up the narrative's rather calm pace. Towards the end, the movie becomes almost poetic. Although I'm not the biggest fan of westerns, I enjoyed "The Proposition" because of its strong finale and some excellent performances (particularly by Guy Pearce and Ray Winstone).

An old fashioned neo western written by Nick Cave and featuring John Hurt!? What could go wrong? Nothing, apparently...

_The Proposition_ is a kind of _Apocalypse Now_ set in 1880s Australia, so... _Apocalypse Then_, I guess.