The Proposition and Animal Kingdom

I happened to watch both of these movies within two weeks, while also watching simultaneously with two Bond movies (Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace) and noticed how much these two films had in common.

Aside from the fact that they are both Australian and feature Guy Pearce, they deal with similar morally complex issues in regards to crime, loyalty, betrayal, and corruption. They both center on crime gangs or families who are fiercely loyal, until one murderous act upon innocent people gets them into more trouble and puts the pressure on at least one family member to help put a stop to his families's wrath, even though he is reluctant to betray them. There's at least one psychotic older brother in both films (Pope in Animal Kingdom, Arthur in The Proposition) who is to blame for most of the chaos that puts pressure on the lead characters and their loyalties. They also are dealing with a corrupt law enforcement that can't prove itself any better than the criminals and promises something in return for the main characters, but can't really guarantee it with all the corruption.

In the end, both The Proposition and Animal Kingdom are the kinds of thought-provoking films that remind us what a chaotic uncivilized world it is that we live in and that loyalty and family isn't everything when it comes to desperate times and desperate measures. I know these two films are different (one's a Western, the other's a modern crime drama), but the moral dilemmas and the nature of survival are very relevant. It's amazing how Australian cinema can confront such heavy moral questions about survival and justice in the world the way not many Hollywood films have done lately.