The Proposition (2005 film): Difference between revisions

In 1880s [[Australia]], Charlie Burns ([[Guy Pearce]]) and his gang engage in a gunfight with the police. All of the gang members except for Charlie and his younger brother Mikey are killed. Captain Morris Stanley ([[Ray Winstone]]) tells Charlie that he will have Mikey executed by Christmas, which is in 9 days. Stanley offers to free both Mikey and Charlie if Charlie agrees to kill his older brother Arthur Burns ([[Danny Huston]]), who is wanted for rape and murder. Mikey remains in custody while Charlie sets out to kill their brother. During a raid, the police capture some Aboriginal people who, when questioned, claim that the white man they seek (Arthur) is actually a "dog man" and no one goes near his cave.

Charlie ridesRiding in search of Arthur., HeCharlie comes to the charred remains of the Hopkins home, a family that was murdered and the wife raped by the Burns gang. Along the way, he encounters an inebriated old man named Jellon Lamb ([[John Hurt]]) in a cantina where the owner has been speared to death. Charlie realizes that Lamb is a [[bounty hunter]] in pursuit of the Burns brothers and knocks him out. Later on, Charlie awakes and is speared in the chest by a group of Aboriginal men standing over him. Just before passing out, he sees the man who speared him get shot in the head.

Charlie wakes up in the camp of his brother Arthur's camp, located in caves among desolate mountains. Arthur's gang consists of Samuel Stoat ([[Tom Budge]]), a woman named Queenie ([[Leah Purcell]]) who tends to Charlie's wound, and a muscularan Aboriginal man called Two-Bob ([[Tom E. Lewis]]). As he recovers from his wounds, Charlie has several opportunities to kill his brother, but does not. He lies and tells Arthur that Mikey is not with him because he has met a woman.

Captain Stanley attempts to defend Mikey at gunpoint from the bloodthirsty townspeople, but is overruled once Martha arrives, insisting on revenge for her dead friends. Mikey is flogged and fatally wounded. The townspeople grow tired and eventually disturbed at the excessive display, Martha faints, and Stanley flings the bloody whip at Fletcher, who fires him. Back at the abandoned cantina, Sergeant Lawrence and his men have found and massacred a group of Aboriginal people. Arthur and Two-Bob find Lawrence's group while they sleep and kill Jacko and Sergeant Lawrence. Before Arthur [[Stomp (strike)|stomps]] Lawrence to death, Lawrence tells Arthur that Charlie has been sent to kill him.

Jellon Lamb enters Arthur's camp and ties up Samuel and Charlie, both of whom are sleeping. Lamb is shot in the stomach by the returning Two-Bob. Arthur stabs Lamb in the heart; Charlie points his revolver at Arthur, but instead shoots Lamb in the head, putting him out of his misery. He finally informs Arthur that Mikey is in custody and is set to hang. Charlie decides to break out Mikey; Arthur, Samuel and Charlie ride into town dressed in the clothes taken from the officers Arthur and Two-Bob had killed, while Two-Bob poses as an Aboriginal man they have captured. Once at the jail, the men free Mikey, and Charlie and Two-Bob ride off with him, but the badly injured Mikey dies in Charlie's arms. Arthur and Samuel remain to behead the two officers insidein the jail. The badly injured Mikey dies in Charlie's arms.

Stanley fears retribution and loadsmakes several gunspreparations, but he and Martha let their guard down to have a peaceful Christmas dinner. Once they begin, Arthur and Samuel shoot open the door and invade their home. Arthur pulls Stanley into another room and brutally beats him. Samuel drags Martha inside, and Arthur has Stanley watch as Samuel begins to rape Martha. Charlie walks in and informs Arthur of Mikey's death; Arthur ignores him and encourages Charlie to listen to Samuel's beautiful singing. Charlie shoots Samuel [[point blank]] in the head, then shoots Arthur twice, disgusted by his conduct. Arthur staggers out of the house and Charlie follows a trail of blood to find him seated on the ground. Arthur asks Charlie what he will do next, and dies with Charlie sitting silently by his side.