The Proposition
Seen it?2005 | 104 min | Western, Drama
Sunday Safe BetWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
It earned strong reviews (85% on Rotten Tomatoes). A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who loves a strong drama. If you loved The Hateful Eight or The Revenant, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Thoughtful and character-driven.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 44 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated R: expect violence.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
In 1880s Australia, a lawman offers renegade Charlie Burns a difficult choice. In order to save his younger brother from the gallows, Charlie must hunt down and kill his older brother, 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.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
85% on Rotten Tomatoes, 73 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
7.0 out of 10
- AwardsSolid
Won 1 Venice award: Venice Film Festival: Gucci Prize for Best Screenplay. Plus 11 other awards.
- Box office & staying powerSolid
$5 million worldwide on a $2 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 109K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by John Hillcoat
- Guy PearceCharlie Burns
- Ray WinstoneCaptain Morris Stanley
- Danny HustonArthur Burns
- Emily WatsonMartha Stanley
- David WenhamEden Fletcher
- Richard WilsonMike Burns
- John HurtJellon Lamb
- Noah TaylorBrian O'Leary
- Robert MorganSergeant Lawrence
- Jeremy MadronaAsian Prostitute