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Underground > Film, TV & Theatre >

The Proposition

The Return Of Rothkoid

02:15 / 28.09.05

So. Who's seen The Proposition yet? It's the film that Nick Cave's written, John Hillcoat's filmed, and Guy Pearce and Ray Winstone (amongst others, including Emily Watson) appears in.

I saw a preview a couple of weeks ago, and it looks - given that it's getting distributed by Sony - like it'll be given a pretty big push. The film itself seems to deserve it, at least - Hillcoat's brilliant meditations on the starkness of the land (echoing the shots of the prison in Ghosts... Of The Civil Dead are breathtaking. The landscape plays a big part in the film, just as it did in Walkabout and Picnic At Hanging Rock - there's the discernable feeling of otherness to the surrounds. Photographically, it dazzles.

Talentwise, it's pretty good. Guy Pearce is as engrossed in the role as you'd expect, but it's really Ray Winstone that takes the cake. He's amazing as the policeman who wants to protect his wife (Emily Watson) from the harshness of the land, of the smalltown bickering, of the fact that her friend was raped and murdered, and of the proposition he makes to Pearce's character about the ensnarement of his brothers. His character's very subtle - trying to hold on to the vestiges of home in a new world with no reference points. There's a real sense of flying the flag, of trying to transplant Britain to Australia, unsuccessfully. It's almost Patrick White-like, in a way.

There's a lot about the treatment of Aboriginals (and barbarity in general) in the film, and some scenes are difficult to watch. But it's compulsive viewing.

Anyway. I'll link the review when I get it banged out. I was a bit disappointed that the bulk of the funding came from the UK - I'd've loved this to be totally homegrown - but I suppose that Cave's home and business contacts are there now, so it makes cash-gathering a little easier.

Soundtrack - Warren Ellis and Nick Cave - is pretty good, too. Doesn't stand alone so well, but in the film it works.

Certainly, it's the best film about Australia - and one that is a must-see for Australians - to come out in a while. It's an epic, and something that I desperately hope gets the success it deserves.

Who's seen? Comments?

07:44 / 28.09.05

When does it open in the UK?

STOATIE LIEKS CHOCOLATE MILK

07:49 / 28.09.05

I'd never even heard of this... ooh! Ghosts... was one of those movies which I thought was sheer fucking genius, but haven't watched again since, as it was a bit much. I'm really looking forward to seeing this once as well.

The Return Of Rothkoid

11:50 / 28.09.05

Finally! It seems the UK has to wait a bit longer for this one - the reverse of what usually happens in Australia. According to the film's IMDB page, it's released in the UK on November 25th.

Start counting the days. You especially, Loomis. You'll dig it a lot.

(Stoatie: I caught Ghosts... just a little while ago, for the first time. Holy fuck but that's an unrelenting film. It makes Bad Boy Bubby (which I've come to appreciate as one of the best Australian films ever made, at least from a bravery viewpoint) look like Days Of Our Lives. There's some similar themes at work in The Proposition. But yeah - there's a remastered DVD out here of Ghosts... that may be worth picking up, especially if you've a region-free player, and it's not released there. The interviews with Blixa about soundtracking the thing are hilarious.

The Return Of Rothkoid

11:54 / 28.09.05

There's a trailer for the film at Sony Pictures' minisite for the film. Not a lot else there at the moment, though. Worth a look, however.

The Return Of Rothkoid

11:57 / 28.09.05

I really REALLY want to see this again. It's a bit like that - horrible in places (there's a whipping scene that's fucking hard going) but there's something about it that makes you want to experience it again.

If you can see the CD of the soundtrack anywhere, look at the back cover for a sample. You'll know what I mean.

STOATIE LIEKS CHOCOLATE MILK

12:00 / 28.09.05

I'll be looking for the soundtrack anyway... whether it works without the movie or not, I'm a bit sad like that.

The Return Of Rothkoid

12:33 / 10.10.05

There's a [spoiler-free, mostly] review of the film available here, written by me.

The Return Of Rothkoid

02:01 / 22.10.05

Stoatie: did you end up seeking out the soundtrack? What did you think?

STOATIE LIEKS CHOCOLATE MILK

04:07 / 22.10.05

Not yet... too skint. But this week I get paid, and will begin questing.

08:46 / 22.10.05

Oooh, a western written by Nick Cave and chock full of decent actors - sign me up.

elpis eutropius

10:58 / 09.03.06

Opening tomorrow in the UK. Very much looking forward to seeing this...

Official site here

20:07 / 18.03.06

Just got to see this on Wednesday, our local cinema had a Nick Cave night to go with it (Loomis, where were you?). I liked it, thought it worked well, strong characters / actors and a powerful narrative. Slight criticisms that maybe parts of the dialogue were overwritten, I wasn't as amazed by the soundtrack as expected from the talent involved -after only one viewing like - but overall, pretty damn good. Very violent obviously. Any other UK views now that it's out?

18:19 / 19.03.06

Yeah, the violence had a really muddy, mucky quality to it-particularly striking were the common scenes of characters washing the blood from their faces and hands.

Likewise, I felt the dialogue was at times self-consciously of a style (the melodramatic, gothic Western I guess).

However, real sympathy for some of the characters shines through (the focus to me really seemed to be Winstone) while others remain under-written (Danny Huston- what did he have to do besides sit and look at sunsets?). A mixed bag, but one I would highly recommend...

p.s.- in spite of a sneering English villain, I'd expect better from my beloved Mr. Cave.

The Return Of Rothkoid

01:37 / 29.03.06

I think a lot of the criticism - and bear in mind I haven't seen it since I saw the screening, though it's now out on DVD here and I'll hopefully pick it up when paid next week - probably stems from the fact that the script was written in three-odd weeks by Nick.

I'm a bit ambivalent about his dialogue at times - but that's nothing new: his novel was full of really mawkish phrases that sounded a bit over-sauced, and there's examples to be found on a slew of his records, too - but I think the epic gestures of the story kinda compensate pretty much for it.

David Wenham's certainly underused, however.

08:54 / 04.04.06

Anyone else spot the wonderful Noah Taylor in the opening scene?- he took a rather nasty shot to the neck and bowed out if I remember. Love this guy, if only because his Hitler (in the much under-rated "Max") is the best I've ever seen.

08:14 / 05.04.06

Finally planning to see this on Sat arvo. That Nick Cave night sounded great Blake Head - you should've started a barbmeet for it!

Yeah Rothkoid I'm anticipating some of that Nick Cave OTT sort of style, so I suppose Cave fans who like that sort of thing (or at least have more patience with it) are more likely to enjoy the movie than people who don't. I loved his novel as the sound of the language was so luscious. The comparisons with Faulkner are well-deserved I think, and not just because of the southern setting.

Really looking forward to seeing this. Maybe if Cave writes the odd script, it'll make him too busy to release double albums.

08:12 / 19.04.06

Well I saw it, and, predictably, thought it was excellent. I'd like to see it on a small screen though. I don't really like watching films on the big screen as I can't take it all in and the sound is way too loud. I like to be able to focus on the whole picture at once.

I already knew the basic premise of the film but hadn't expected the complexities of the other characters like the policeman and the ways the rest of the townspeople were used to heighten the tension.

And it was actually less violent than I thought. I suppose I had expected it to be so over the top and was kind of half-tensed throughout expecting some suddent flash of violence that I was surprised when it didn't come. I really need to watch it again, but then I suppose it's not really the kind of film you want to watch repeatedly.

Great work all round though.

10:01 / 19.04.06

I don't really like watching films on the big screen as I can't take it all in and the sound is way too loud.
Grandpa Loomis shows his age.

I really loved the film, too - it was much more complex than I expected, and so beautifully filmed. Though it's not encouraging me to take a trip to Australia anytime soon.

The Return Of Rothkoid

22:48 / 19.04.06

I certainly think that the violence of the film is mostly implied or ... well, it's the atmosphere, not necessarily the beatings.

That said, I did think the whipping scene worked much better through obfuscation than showing things straight might've - the townsfolk's reaction to the event continuing shows a glint of humanity and compassion even in the toughest people.

23:04 / 19.04.06

Have been considering seeing this. The trailer, unfortunately, makes me want to head home immediately and wash my hair...

The Return Of Rothkoid

03:19 / 21.04.06

Hmmm. In that case, how are you with blowflies?

06:49 / 21.04.06

Blowflies I don't mind.

07:38 / 21.04.06

Ha - my reaction to this, too, was that they all needed shampoo. Though Guy Pearce seemed to take it a step further than anyone else - chip pan head.
It's worth bearing with the greasiness, though - it's a great film. Much, much more than just 'a Western', which is what I went expecting to see.

18:23 / 10.10.06

we just saw it at the local art house film shoppe.
I enjoyed it but claimed an aisle seat so I could skip out on a possible rape scene.
A friend's only critical note was the score was a bit too modern at times.
I was rather impressed with the awful condition of everyone's teeth.
Also the scruffy irish wolfhound was a nice touch.

Nick's an excellent storyteller of a particular kind of tale. There are threads of history and horror we'd rather not be reminded of and he does a great job of making sure we cannot turn away.

Does anyone know more about the warning that appears at the beginning of the film notifying aboriginal people that they may be offended by the content? Was it just for the pictures used in the opening sequence?

miss wonderstarr

19:49 / 10.10.06

Yes, I think it was specifically about that, though I don't know what cultural belief or taboo it refers to.

"Members of the
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are advised that this
film contains images which may be offensive to indigenous people. It
includes historical photographs of people now deceased."

I found it a really gruelling, difficult and disturbing film, especially the final sequence. I appreciate that it was good filmmaking, but emotionally I found it really quite horrible ~ again, I accept that it was meant to be horrible, and that it achieved its end. To be honest I don't even much like thinking in detail about the finale, so I'd try to avoid watching it again. I mean the build-up of the Christmas dinner, with the awful sense of dread and approaching doom, and the actual violation that followed.

STOATIE LIEKS CHOCOLATE MILK

00:30 / 11.10.06

I appreciate that it was good filmmaking, but emotionally I found it really quite horrible

That was my exact response to Ghosts Of The Civil Dead. I found this an easier re-watch, though still very uncomofortable viewing. Hillcoat seems to be a genius at making brilliant films that aren't much fun to watch.

That said, this, while uncomfortable, is beautiful. And it has a compelling narrative- it's like Cormac McCarthy goes Australia. Whereas Ghosts... was just ugly throughout- being set in a prison, it didn't even have beautiful landscapes. Not sure which is the better film, but this is the one I'll watch more.

00:52 / 11.10.06

yes the build up over dinner made me glad I had my escape plan. I really don't feel badly any more when I leave and just warn my companions before we sit down.

it was a beautiful movie and I greatly enjoyed the stark horror juxtaposed with the bemused sense of wonder. It was a vicious little tale, though my spouse pointed out if you know Nick's work it makes sense that the truly evil instigator of the whipping goes unchastised and it all comes down on the 'trying to do right' folks.

13:27 / 25.10.06

Just caught this last night- i thought it was great, beautifully shot, a great script and superbly acted- while it was violent it held back from gratuitous violence- a gunshot and impact then move on. No slow motion multi-angle gun battles which i liked, It was real time and this added to the tension.

I was truthfully not expecting the best as a couple of people had told me they didn't like it- but pleasently surprised. I'm currently reading the True History of The Kelly gang which i'm loving and this movie made a great companion piece.

The score was great with one small moment of modern electric guitar letting it down slightly - the only point where i felt the film -makers were saying "er NICK CAVE wrote this!!!!!" That said a minor complaint in a really well made little movie.

Disco is My Class War

02:26 / 26.10.06

Members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are advised that this film contains images which may be offensive to indigenous people. It includes historical photographs of people now deceased.

For some/most traditional Indigenous law cultures, it's not done to look at images or hear voice recordings of indigenous people who have died. It's also not done to say the dead person's name. In Pitjantjatjara and Yankutjatjara there's a general name that's used for everyone who dies. Hence lots of trouble if someone living has the name of someone deceased! (Someone I know worked with Aboriginal communities a lot and was given the Pitjantjatjara name of someone who had died -- the elders she worked with changed her name slightly so they didn't have to keep saying that name.)

Anyhow, the warning has become a standard of Australian film and television, whenever a program of fiilm features anyone Indigenous who has died. There are usually warnings outside museums or photo exhibits, too.

Kali, Queen of Kitteh

12:29 / 29.04.09

MattS and I watched this for the first time last night. I have to say, it was really wonderfully done: stark, minimal, yet beautiful. Some of the violence made me flinch---to be truthful, I had expected it to be worse---and of course, the attempted rape scene at the end made go, "I'm going to look at this magazine very intently, Matt, so you tell me when it's over."

I liked it. But I also think it's one of those films where I can just see it the one time and be satisfied.

Also, watching it, made me think, "Why do people romanticize the American West so much because the outback of Australia sure beats the shit out of it in terms of lawlessness and desperation! And much more interesting."