The Proposition

I just watched this film on Amazon Freevee, and it really isn't bad. It's a distinctive period drama set in Wales circa 1800.

Perhaps some of the reason for low ratings/negative reviews on IMDB is that The Proposition has a very retro feel even for a 1990s film. It's retro both in terms of the cinematography and also some overdramtized scenes or clichéd plot elements. None of these spoil the movie in my opinion.

If you can get past that, it's deffinitly an entertaining and enjoyable film to watch.

Another point of confusion is that there are several other films with the same title made within a decade of this one. IMDB even has the wrong trailer posted for with this film.

this film was both riviting and exciting, an edge of your seat thrill ride. The directing was notably beautiful and the acting, nothing but sincere. i definatly recomend this film to people everywhere expecting an amaginative story, amazing film making, and exquisit scenery.

Those with ultra-high expectations will of course be disappointed (some crazily over-reactive reviews on this page), but it's basically what you'd expect it to be - a fairly typical, historical/action TV movie made in the late 1990s.

The good sides include the novelty value of a Western-style cattle drive story set in Napoleonic-era Wales; the costumes, location and photography all look good too. There is also some pleasure to be had, albeit a guilty pleasure, in the trashy/camp acting and general feel of it all. Theresa Russell's breathy pouting and eyebrow dynamics reminded me of, say, an episode of Dynasty, with an accent that is sometimes Welsh but mostly an odd hybrid of a leprechaun and Groundskeeper Willie. The plot is the usual stuff - she has a 'quarrelsome-but-lustful' dynamic with her tough-guy ramrod while his brother (the Sheriff) is mad with unrequited love for her, prompting further drama.

It's a bit formulaic and doesn't really engage you emotionally but it flows well enough, as an adventure if nothing else. The fight scenes certainly supply tension. So if light escapism into worlds of historical-action-drama is your thing, then you could do a lot worse than this. Not amazing sure, but watchable.

Some incredible cinematography... some mediocre acting, a philosophical/ethical storyline.. but I wonder who gave this a 3 and then probably gave Rio Bravo like a 9 or something... sure, this is worthy of some more solidly snotty introspection than I'm probably capable of giving, but going down that road of "western" cinema has led me fairly quickly to this... outside of the cannon of American westerns and Spaghetti westerns.. and the odd Japanese samurai flick.. I thought this was done pretty well.. I laughed at some scenes, I thought of it was trope and I did think there were some better options for the end scenes.. but, all in all, 4 point whatever IMDB?? I mean.. reall?? Look at yourselves... 6.5 for me.. rounded up to 7 just to anger some of you.

I know that any kind of story that seems more like a romance novel come to life is not going to be an Oscar winner. But sometimes a girl (or boy) gets in the mood for a cinematic box of chocolates. The Proposition would have fit this bill just fine if it weren't for two glaring mistakes.

1. Theresa Russell. Boy oh boy, what a terrible casting mistake. She's good in other roles that are more intense, but in this one her dramatic presence was overexaggerated. She delivered her lines like a drag queen > dramatic eyebrow lifts and over-emphatic one liners. Yuck!

2. The sex scene. It was too much lust. Lust is great, it's realistic...but only in the right vehicle. This scene would have been great in an independent or artsy film...but in a kinder, fluffier film like Proposition: less would have been so much more.

The best part of this movie was Patrick Bergen. Oh well, there's always Lifetime. LOL