This review may contain spoilers. I can handle the truth.
Brittney Scott-Pulliam’s review published on Letterboxd:
This review may contain spoilers.
Just Sad
The first scene of the movie entitled The Proposition caught me off-guard. The music playing in the moments leading to the opening scene was very solemn. Then, shots fired! The whole first scene is just bullets flying, women screaming, and people dying. Although it comes across very chaotic, it did its job. It truly set the tone for the rest of the movie.
Personally, I felt that this movie was violent, but sad. This story is essentially about three brothers. The eldest brother, named Arthur Burns, has made the decision to live a life of animalistic crime and “on the run”. Charlie Burns is the second eldest brother who made the choice to “leave the family”; hoping to shield and protect Mikey Burns (the youngest brother). Although Charlie ultimately fails to do so.
The title of this movie refers to the literal proposition Charlie gets from a man referred to as Captain Stanley. The captain has left him with a choice. Either go on the quest to track down his older brother and turn him in, or his younger brother dies. The captain believes Arthur is guilty of several crimes, including, killing a family in their town. The worst part of this crime was that the lady of the house (named Eliza) was pregnant and raped before her death. He refuses to let this hideous crime go unpunished.
In an effort to protect Mikey, Charlie agrees to go on the hunt for Arthur. While on his mission, Mikey is being held in the town’s jail where the jailers and townspeople mentally and physically abuse him. I believe Captain Stanley knew that Mikey was innocent of the crimes committed against Eliza and her family. The people in that town (including the captain’s wife) thought otherwise and wanted him to pay with his life. Captain Stanley’s wife was also Eliza’s best friend.
Despite the Captain’s efforts to protect Mikey from the brutal wishes of the townspeople, he is forced to give him up. Mikey is then whipped until he loses consciousness. Later on in the movie, he ends up dying from his injuries.
Meanwhile, Charlie succeeds in finding his brother Arthur. They both come together to rescue Mikey. Although they make it to the town before Mikey dies, he is in critical condition when they find him. They didn’t even get a whole day with him before he succumbs to his injuries. Charlie is mourning the loss of their brother and Arthur is out for revenge. Arthur decides that the captain and his wife were going to be the ones to pay for Mikey’s death. Captain Stanley is brutally beaten and then forced to watch his wife be sexually assaulted.
After spending a few moments at Mikey’s grave, Charlie decides enough is enough. Arthur must be stopped. Charlie, to Arthur’s complete surprise, fatally shoots him. He has now lost both of his brothers; leaving him alone with no one to call family. This is how the movie ends…
My opinion? Was it good? Yes. Would I watch it again? Probably not. I usually like a good western. The Proposition just wasn’t my “cup of tea”. But, to each his own.