The Proposition

So after four years I've finally seen The Proposition. I've been meaning to see it for a while now, and I am ashamed to admit that it has taken this long. But I've finally seen it and it definitely delivered all that was anticipated. The director, John Hillcoat, has created, I think, one of the best movies about family I've ever seen. This film is not for the faint of heart, but it's definitely amazing. It deserves all the praise it was given and all the praise it receives further. The film aesthetic is so simple yet so intricate, it's a gorgeous piece. Everything is executed to a hill everything composed in a specific manner, colored specifically. You can feel the filth as everyone melts away in the Australian outback. Everyone is dirty in this movie, rightly so, but a dirt so black that you can feel it. Guy Pearce's transformation is one of sheer brilliance. This man can do no wrong in my book and I don't think he's given enough praise. He completely transforms himself each time he does a film, it's quite something to watch. Considering I posted a few weeks ago about The Hurt Locker. The fact that he does a very small part as an American soilder in that film and is a complete turn around here is just amazing to see. But the film stands alone, the characters are all equally complex, and only running 1hr44mins you think it would take longer to have characters develope like they do in the film. It's quite something to see. The screenplay is just so well done. The film begins with high energy and slows to a hilt, makes you wait, makes you anticipate, makes you wait real long, then the shit hits the fan. Like crazy. In the middle of an Austrailian christmas nonetheless. It's hard to decribe everything without giving it away, but the premise is this: Charlie Burns (Pearce), in exchange for the freedom of his younger brother Mike (Richard Wilson) is asked to kill his older brother Arthur (Danny Huston). Watch and support films like these folks it means a lot to getting the word out there and celebrating these artists accordingly. Hillcoat's newest cinematic endeavor The Road, starring Viggo Mortensen, looks to be just as good if not better. If you haven't heard about it, you will, but here's the trailer just in case.

Happy moviegoing!