Nick Cave's screenplay is mostly impressive - mining themes frequently present in his music. The dialogue is poetic and sparse, although every word felt so earnest - I found it hard to emotionally connect to the story. In the hands of another director, The Proposition could have been ponderous. But John Hillcoat's direction is confident and subtle. He establishes an intoxicating sense of foreboding in this oppressive landscape. This is a punishing tale of morality, loyalty and violence that, from the opening credits through to the final frame, emphatically rejects any romantic notions of Australia's colonial past.
The Proposition Review
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