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PLEASE NOTE: Michael D's is currently in READ ONLY MODE. Anything submitted will simply not be written to the database.
Lots of stuff is still broken, but at least reviews can now be looked up and read.
The Proposition (2005)

The Proposition (2005)

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Released 20-Feb-2006

Cover Art

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Details At A Glance

General Extras
Category Drama Main Menu Audio & Animation
Scene Selection Animation
Trailer-Sueno, The Exorcism Of Emily Rose, Mirror Mask
Featurette
Rating Rated MA
Year Of Production 2005
Running Time 99:46
RSDL / Flipper Dual Layered Cast & Crew
Start Up Ads Then Menu
Region Coding 4 Directed By John Hillcoat
Studio
Distributor
UK Film Council
Sony Pictures Home Entertain
Starring Tom Budge
Guy Pearce
Emily Watson
Ray Winstone
David Wenham
John Hurt
David Gulpilil
Leah Purcell
Richard Wilson
Tommy Lewis
Robert Morgan
Case ?
RPI $29.95 Music Nick Cave
Warren Ellis


Video Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame None English Dolby Digital 5.1 (448Kb/s)
English Dolby Digital 2.0 (224Kb/s)
Widescreen Aspect Ratio 2.35:1
16x9 Enhancement
16x9 Enhanced
Video Format 576i (PAL)
Original Aspect Ratio 2.35:1 Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures No
Subtitles English for the Hearing Impaired Smoking Yes
Annoying Product Placement No
Action In or After Credits No

NOTE: The Profanity Filter is ON. Turn it off here.

Plot Synopsis

The Proposition is a peculiar film, much like a beautiful nightmare. Directed by John Hillcoat and written by Nick Cave, the film will either be loved or loathed. It is a poetic tale of disloyalty, honour, rituals of violence and familial bonds.

Guy Pierce stars as Charlie Burns, an outlaw who is offered an impossible proposition by Captain Stanley (Ray Winstone); to find and kill his psychopathic older brother Arthur (Danny Huston) who is in hiding after the savage rape and murder of a pioneer family or have his 14-year-old brother Mikey Burns (Richard Wilson) hung on Christmas Day.

The star of the film is cinematographer Benoît Delhomme. His vision of Australia circa 1880s is surreal, harsh and bitter. The landscape is merciless and is the perfect stage for the onslaught of violence and brutality the film features.

The cast, which also includes John Hurt, Emily Watson, David Gulpilil, Noah Taylor and David Wenham, all excel in their roles, but it is Danny Huston who is outstanding in the role of Arthur.

This is a strange, unsettling film which is not easily accessible. Personally I found the violence to be gratuitous and somewhat unnecessary but the visuals are stunning and mythical.

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Transfer Quality

Video

The transfer on this DVD is simply stunning.

It is presented in an aspect ratio of 2.35:1 and is 16x9 Enhanced.

The landscape visuals are detailed with deep shadow detail. The colour is rich and flesh tones are natural. In short, there are no flaws of any consequence to report upon.

The average bitrate is consistent at 8.45 Mb/s.

The subtitles are clear and true to the onscreen dialogue.

Video Ratings Summary
Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

The 5.1 Dolby Digital (448Kb/s) track is well produced.

The dialogue is clear and audible.

Surround usage is excellent as this is a landscape atmospheric film. The subwoofer is most audible during key action scenes.

The score and songs were conceived by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis. The styles of the songs are somewhat best described as rampant folk and church hymn inspired ramblings. It is loose and contemporary and yet fits the visuals very well.

An English Dolby Digital 2.0 (224Kb/s) soundtrack is also an option.

Audio Ratings Summary
Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

Extras

Main Menu Audio & Animation

The Main Menu Audio & Animation is well suited to the film and features selective score highlights.

Trailer

Trailers for Sueno, The Exorcism Of Emily Rose, and Mirror Mask.

Featurette

This 13 minute feature is an excellent behind the scenes look at the making of the film and the director's intent to be respective and responsible regarding the portrayal of Aboriginal culture.

R4 vs R1

NOTE: To view non-R4 releases, your equipment needs to be multi-zone compatible and usually also NTSC compatible.

Summary

A strange, unsettling film which will not be easily accessible to a wider audience.

Above par sound and vision.

Minimal extras.

Ratings (out of 5)

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall

© Vanessa Appassamy (Biography)
Monday, February 13, 2006
Review Equipment
DVDDenon DVD-1910, using DVI output
DisplayPanasonic PT-AE 700. Calibrated with THX Optimizer. This display device is 16x9 capable. This display device has a maximum native resolution of 1080p.
Audio DecoderBuilt in to amplifier/receiver. Calibrated with THX Optimizer.
AmplificationYamaha DSP-A595a - 5.1 DTS
Speakers(Front) DB Dynamics Polaris AC688F loudspeakers,(Centre) DB Dynamics Polaris Mk3 Model CC030,(Rear) Polaris Mk3 Model SSD425,(Subwoofer) Jensen JPS12

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