DVD of the Week: The Proposition

My pick for the most rentworthy movie new to DVD this week (for those of you who still slack in theater patronage) is this grisly Australian western from director John Hillcoat and screenwriter Nick Cave (who also lends his musical genius to the score). Guy Pearce (Memento) stars as Charlie Burns, a member of a malicious crime trio of brothers who finds himself in a dire situation when local authorities give him a vicious ultimatum. He must kill his older brother in exchange for the life of his younger one. Danny Huston (The Constant Gardener, 21 Grams) shines as Michael’s older, more ruthless sibling and so does Emily Watson (Punch-Drunk Love) as the local police captain’s fragile wife. Watson has the honor of delivering one of my favorites scenes in any movie this year. Watch closely as she quietly recounts her tragic nightmare without ever turning to face the camera. It’s brilliant. The entire production is an amazingly beautiful, but wickedly visceral creation. It’s most definitely one of my favorite films so far this year.