a proper masterpiece

good point, and i have wondered this too



"rage to exist..." http://tinyurl.com/c9ush3z

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We don't know the reasoning behind the murder and rape that occurred at the Hopkins residence. We can only piece it together. Sam seemed ready to perform at...what seemed to me, a signal from Arthur. Mikey I had always imagined was only present. Because, family? Charlie is more of a question than anyone. We don't know what crimes the family committed before the start of the movie. But they were seemingly less atrocious than what happened at the Hopkins'. I imagined that Arthur was just the eldest sibling...enigmatic at that, who had looked out for the rest of them. So, he dictated their path. An "uncivilized" land and an obviously well read and highly opinionated white man. He really came off as an intriguing character. *beep* awful...but intriguing.

One of my favorite movies of all time.

you make a good point about the spaghetti western moniker. and i agree, now that you mention it. i realize the original intent of the term was meant as a dig by competing american directors, though i think the derogatory connotation fit better during that era when these films were current. for me at least, the term has achieved classic status by now, 50 years later. for me it represents a classic cinema movement. but i am rambling... lol

i agree with you proposition is one of the best westerns ever made. ironically, it's not even about the american west. i don't know which one i'd say is the best ever, but i can say this without equivocation: the proposition is definitely the best western made in the whole world in the last 20-25 years. there were a couple right there at the end of the 80s i liked, but i'd rank them as good but not explosive like this one:

i liked wyatt earp, but i don't say it's exceptional.

a lot of people like tombstone but again, i don't see it as exceptional. a little affected, over the top for me

unforgiven was a shame, a travesty IMO. what a woosy joke that was. yeah right, "let's cry and make a western about NOT being a bad ass killer." and ironically it was THIS western eastwood got big attention for. go figure

lonesome dove was exceptional for me, and i see it as a timeless classic in spite of its production/style and the fact that it was a TV movie. i think the writing took center stage there. well, the writing and duvall. lol

young guns was quite entertaining to me, but i kinda see it as a cartoonish western similar to tombstone. i liked the energy and the character and the use of rock music. "the food's gettin cold, dick!"

pale rider. enough said. IMO this one was clint's last western, and continued in the vein of his earlier ones.

in the same year we had silverado which i liked a lot but was kindof a throwback to a fifties TV style story, clear cut black and white justice, kinda antiseptic but i liked it nonetheless.


i won't go back past 85 here, since all of those speak for themselves.


but again, i agree that the proposition smokes ALL OF THESE i listed here. it really does. the realism is astounding.


i also agree with you about hurt's character, and about the dilema facing guy pearce. i thought pearce nailed it, very charismatic, pulled the viewer in and added much empathy.




(btw, you from oz?)



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Freeze, sucka! Put down the mayonnaise, slowly.

well, sergio leone is mentioned by nick cave himself in the marketing of the proposition. go watch the trailer.

and, i wouldn't say it is its own genre, unless i'm missing something somewhere. have there been other aussie westerns in this vein? i thought this was a kindof standalone

my references to irish things is actually pretty accurate, if you consider the monikers in the film. also let's be honest in admitting that the western genre originated in america, both with literature and cinema. so my comment was intended as positive, meaning this is a fresh new take on the tired old western. didn't mean it as a dig.

again, if there are other aussie westerns, let me know. but i've always thought of the western as an american institution. though this one clearly has the UNIQUE stamp of australian flavor, which i really dig.

one more thing. most of the actors are brits, not from oz. just sayin.