Who Says Westerns Can't Take Place in Australia?

I'm not normally a huge fan of westerns, but I know a good one when I see one. And I'll bet you haven't seen this one.

In 2005, an Australian western came out called The Proposition. Surprisingly penned by the ever-badassed Nick Cave, who you know I love, it tells the story of a police captain who forces an outlaw to hunt down and kill his older brother, or else the captain will hang the outlaw's younger brother. Ah, such western-film-plot-gold!

What follows is a downright poetic tale of the fallout as these men struggle to cope with the results of their faustian deal. And no surprise that it should be told so brilliantly. In his music, Cave has spun many such tales of brutality and love. Though it may seem odd that he made the transition to screenwriting, this movie is merely a feature length extension of what Cave has been doing for years.

Brilliant performances by Guy Pearce, Ray Winstone, Emily Watson, and John Hurt are complimented by a haunting and effective soundtrack by Cave that deeply connects the viewer with the characters.

As an example, Cave delivers such emotion with a repeated tune - spoken, sung, and even whispered, that seems at times like a hymn and at others a dirge, to imbue Guy Pearce's character with aura of both mourning and danger. Its quiet despair is highlighted by lyrics delivered almost subliminally:

'When?' said the moon to the stars in the sky
'Soon' said the wind that followed them all

'Who?' said the cloud that started to cry
'Me' said the rider as dry as a bone

'How?' said the sun that melted the ground and
'Why?' said the river that refused to run and

'Where?' said the thunder without a sound
'Here' said the rider and took up his gun

'No' said the stars to the moon in the sky
'No' said the trees that started to moan

'No' said the dust that blunted its eyes
'Yes' said the rider as white as a bone

'No' said the moon that rose from his sleep
'No' said the cry of the dying sun

'No' said the planet as it started to weep
'Yes' said the rider and laid down his gun

It's not the greatest film or greatest western out there, but it was a damned good movie. Throw it on that Netflix queue; you won't be disappointed.