The Proposition | Rotten Tomatoes (2025)

85% Tomatometer 130 Reviews 85% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings

In 1880s Australia, a lawman (Ray Winstone) offers renegade Charlie Burns (Guy Pearce) a difficult choice. In order to save his younger brother from the gallows, Charlie must hunt down and kill his older brother (Danny Huston), who is wanted for rape and murder. Venturing into one of the Outback's most inhospitable regions, Charlie faces a terrible moral dilemma that can end only in violence.

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The Proposition

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Critics Consensus

Brutal, unflinching, and violent, but thought-provoking and with excellent performances, this Australian western is the one of the best examples of the genre to come along in recent times.

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Critics Reviews

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The Proposition | Rotten Tomatoes (1) J. R. Jones Chicago Reader Directed by John Hillcoat, this Aussie feature perfectly re-creates the charbroiled landscapes and cruel psychodrama of the old Sergio Leone westerns... Jul 14, 2022 Full Review The Proposition | Rotten Tomatoes (2) Brian Tallerico UGO Any movie that can cling to your memory with as much brutal power as this fantastic film is unquestionably a proposition worth taking. Mar 24, 2007 Full Review The Proposition | Rotten Tomatoes (3) Ben Walters Time Out A beautifully shot tracker's western that brings the Fordian poles of garden and desert to bear on the bushrangers' Outback, this is also a revenge drama of substantial horror. Jun 24, 2006 Full Review The Proposition | Rotten Tomatoes (4) Alistair Lawrence Common Sense Media The movie's sunburned and anarchic setting creates a memorable atmosphere that sticks to the screen as much as it does its leads' matted hair and filthy clothes. Rated: 4/5 Oct 11, 2023 Full Review The Proposition | Rotten Tomatoes (5) Richard Propes TheIndependentCritic.com May be one of the most realistic portrayals of how the West was really won. Rated: 3.5/4.0 Sep 20, 2020 Full Review The Proposition | Rotten Tomatoes (6) Yasser Medina Cinefilia I know by heart the revisionism of this western. [Full review in Spanish] Rated: 6/10 Jul 24, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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mark g Tough review. Acting is top-notch. Cinematography is incredible. The story keeps you glued to the screen. So what's the problem? Jesus! The most unenjoyable movie ever made. Just darkness, so bleak. In the end, regardless of the skill involved in the production, you have to be able to enjoy a film a bit to recommend. Otherwise it's just probing an open wound. Rated 2/5 Stars • Rated 2 out of 5 stars 09/12/24 Full Review Elvis D Desde Australia llega este western cuyo guion fue escrito por el famoso músico Nick Cave y además, el mismo Cave estuvo a cargo de la banda sonora. The Propoition no es una película al nivel de Hollywood, pero es un western bastante decente con un buen elenco y una historia brutal. La película empieza sin dejar bien en claro de que va la historia, eso después se va entendiendo a la mitad. Lo que tenemos aquí es una intrigante historia de un bandido que debe cazar a su hermano mayor para salvar la vida de su hermano menor y para poder pagar por el crimen que se ha cometido hacia una mujer. El concepto es bastante atrapante y además plasma lo que era el salvaje oeste en ese entonces. El hermano menor Mike Burns que yace tras las rejas se convierte en un chivo expiatorio para el pueblo, el capitán Stanley tiene un buen plan que luego es cuestionado y eso lo pone bajo presión emocional. El bandido Charlie Burns tiene este conflicto de si debe traicionar a su hermano mayor para salvar a su hermano menor a quien quiere bastante. Esta película tiene todo lo necesario para ser un estupendo western. Los actores Guy Pearce, Ray Winstone y Emily Watson son lo mejor del elenco. La película además tiene escenas de violencia muy impactantes. Lo único que falla en esta película es el ritmo tedioso que tiene y algunas situaciones poco claras que se sienten incoherentes. De haberse corregido esos detalles, la película hubiera quedado fantástica. Así que al final, The Proposition uno de los pocos westerns modernos que vale la pena ver por curiosidad. Mi calificación final para esta película es un 7/10. Rated 3.5/5 Stars • Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/18/24 Full Review Dave S If you want to see a movie that gives you a view of "hell", full of dour people who seem to have no reason for existence, other than a hardscrabble desire to stay alive at the expense of others, then this is it.Good/great performances by Ray W and Guy P, but unrelenting violence and a despairing view of humanity are negatives. Rated 3/5 Stars • Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/08/24 Full Review Justin M COULDN’T STOP WATCHING IT. SIMPLY ……FUN TO WATCH AND NEVER KNOWING WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/12/24 Full Review Gareth v A classic.Nick Cave teams up with long time collaborator John Hillcoat to produce one of the best westerns seen in many a year.Brutal and uncompromising, this movie will stay with you long after you see it. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/16/23 Full Review Anthony F Top 20 western for me . Guy is amazing in this film Rated 4.5/5 Stars • Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/13/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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Cast & Crew

John Hillcoat Director Guy Pearce Charlie Burns Ray Winstone Capt. Stanley Emily Watson Martha Stanley Danny Huston Arthur Burns John Hurt Jellon Lamb
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Synopsis In 1880s Australia, a lawman (Ray Winstone) offers renegade Charlie Burns (Guy Pearce) a difficult choice. In order to save his younger brother from the gallows, Charlie must hunt down and kill his older brother (Danny Huston), who is wanted for rape and murder. Venturing into one of the Outback's most inhospitable regions, Charlie faces a terrible moral dilemma that can end only in violence.

Director
John Hillcoat

Producer
Chris Brown, Cat Villiers, Chiara Menage, Jackie O'Sullivan

Screenwriter
Nick Cave

Production Co
Autonomouse, Jackie O Productions, Surefire Films LLC

Rating
R (Strong Grisly Violence|Language)

Genre
Drama, Action, Western

Original Language
English

Rerelease Date (Theaters)
May 5, 2006

Release Date (Streaming)
May 23, 2017

Box Office (Gross USA)
$1.9M

Runtime
1h 44m

Sound Mix
Dolby
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