Hard Times
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Movie Reviews of Hard Times
Movie Review: Character under Adversity
Summary: 5 Stars
"Hard Times" a film directed by Walter Hill, takes place in New Orleans during the Great Depression.
We never really learn any of the vital statistics of Chaney (portrayed by Charles Bronson). Like a lot of able- bodied men at this time, he is a drifter out of work. We don't know where he is from or where he going. His profession, relatives and family are a mystery. He says little and only what he means to say.
Chaney idly wanders into an illicit prize fight. This isn't a boxing arena with its Marquis of Queensbury rules. This is bare knuckle street fighting where there are no referees and few rules. Head butts, biting and kicking along with kidney punches are perfectly legal. Each fighter works with a gambler. Odds are given and bets are taken. Then the mayhem begins.
Observing this, Chaney gets an idea. He approaches a gambler a man named Spencer "Speed' Weed (James Coburn in one of his greatest roles) and pitches a partnership. Speed sets up the fights, takes up the bets, Chaney wins the fights.
Speed has his doubts about Chaney's capabilities. Chaney is too old. But he does have a calmly confident manner about him. He reluctantly fronts for Chaney when Chaney puts every penny he has on the line.
One thing we learn immediately about Chaney. This middle-aged man can obliterate opponents. He is hard but not sadistic. He just doesn't believe wasting time or anything else. Chaney is the kind of man all men wished they could be. He is cool and collected regardless of the situation. While we immediately know he can take care of himself, the only question is will he take care of anyone else?
Speed is impressed. With Chaney, his luck has changed for the better. As brilliantly portrayed by James Coburn, Speed can be a pain in the behind. He's loud, he can be irritatingly smooth. He the kind of guy driving an expensive car, wearing a Rolex, diamonds and a silk suit with a smile that shows everyone of his 88 teeth.
But he won't have a dime in his pocket.....
The supporting cast is brilliant including Strother (..."failure to communicate.") Martin of "Cool Hand Luke" fame. He plays Poe a failed junky ex-medical student hired to be Chaney's cut man distinguished intellectual gentle manner. Jill Ireland plays Chaney's `romantic' interest, Lucy Simpson. (This film was made not too long after Charles Bronson stole her from David McCallum while they were making "The Great Escape". But I digress.)
The ensemble cast is rounded out by Michael McGuire who plays Chick Gandil. Chick is the arch rival of Speed. He is wealthy but his passion is not the family business but gambling.
"Hard Times" is about the effects of adversity not street fighting during the Depression. The Great Depression provides the adversity. Under adversity we all find out our substance. We learn who we are who our enemies are and who are friends are. In adversity, we are stripped to the core of our being. There is no veneer left, no false fronts. Everything is out there on the table.
The fights are just a metaphor. Just like the men in the fights, if all you had were only two hands and some guts would you triumph? What rules would you play by? What kind of character would you show in victory? What kind of character would you show in defeat?
As the movie progresses we see each of the principle characters bare-chested with their dukes up. How they handle adversity and rise to the occasion is the essence of this remarkable film and its joy.
Movie Review: Classic Bare Knuckle Action in the Big Easy
Summary: 5 Stars
This movie is a classic tribute to the subject of "prize fighting". Released in 1975 and directed by Walter Hill, it centers around a 1930's depression drifter named Chaney (Bronson). Chaney is the consummate drifter ---- indifferent and reluctant to commit. However, he ends up in New Orleans and stumbles upon the local subculture of bare knuckle fighting. He then convinces a local hustler by the name of Speed Weed (Coburn) to let him be his next "hitter". Chaney's silent, strong presence brilliantly complements Speed's enormously extroverted style ---- Chaney is the soft-spoken, rugged fighter and Speed is the colorful, manager promoter. However, Chaney's reluctance to commit proves to be a reoccurring test for Speed Weed. Even with his girlfriend Lucy, played by Bronson's wife Jill Ireland, Chaney is emotionally detached and shows an easy comes, easy goes attitude. Chaney wins a few tough illegal fights bare-fisted but Speed falls victim to his own careless wheeling and dealing and is unable to pay his debt to a gang of thugs. As a result, Chaney is forced to fight one last fight with Street ---- a big bear of a man played by Nick Dimitri. This is a climatic event in the movie with both fighters waging one of the most gripping fight scenes this side of Hong Kong. Even better ---- the fight scenes are choreographed the old-fashioned way without relying on special effects
Strother Martin provides a great supporting role as the languid and shady character known as Poe ---- he provides medical advice despite an opium addiction and his failure to finish medical school. Martin also played the prison warden in the movie, "Cool Hand Luke".
Also notable is veteran tough-man actor, Robert Tessier, who plays John Henry ---- the bald grinning tattooed anathema managed and promoted by Speed's rival, Chic Gandil ---- convincingly played by Michael McGuire.
Bronson's physique and muscular definition rivals that of any actor that I've seen portraying similar roles in movies --- even Stallone when he played Rocky. And Bronson was in his 50s'---- incredible!
Also, impressive is the cinematography ---- scenes of New Orleans boat docks, warehouse district, cemetery and French Quarter set the mood for New Orleans during the 1930's depression. Walter Hill, as always, does a good job providing visual and aural (music) elements to the movie that emphasize the culture that surrounds the characters and events.
The fights don't take place in the traditional sense --- gloved combat performed legally within the ring. Fights are illegal bare-fisted slugfests arranged on boat docks and in warehouses among crowds of gambling onlookers. You'll see plenty of the old-fashioned fist fighting techniques reminiscent of old Saturday afternoon action movies. Notice Bronson tends to fight with his arms close to his waist as if he was preparing to do a series of bicep curls ---- classic all the way.
I consider Hard Times to be a true classic. It is certainly one of the greatest films of its genre.
Movie Review: Walter Hill's ode to Depression era street fighting....
Summary: 5 Stars
Tough guy Charles Bronson often copped plenty of criticism over his selection of roles and his alleged one dimensional character range. True, a lot of Charlie's choices were "shoot em 'up" avenger / crime films that ended up on video shelves fairly quickly, but Bronson was a key figure in the 1970's action genre and will be remembered for some stand out "strong, silent type" roles. "Hard Times" is generally regarded as Charles Bronson's best film role and is director Walter Hill's first feature film. Set in the Depression era in and around New Orleans, Bronson portrays the quiet , but toughened drifter Chaney, seeking to make ends meet through the prowess of his fists. After drifting into town aboard a freight train, Bronson hears a commotion emanating from a near by warehouse, Bronson then witnesses a bare knuckle bout and first meets James Coburn as the smooth talking, street wise, but addicted gambler, Speed. Bronson offers his services, to which Coburn replies "You look a little past it...", Charlie proves his worth with a one punch knockout of an opponent and the two partner up and set about winning a few dollars taking on local fighters and hoods. Coburn enlists the services of Strother Martin, who gives another wonderful character performance as the narcotic loving, disgraced medicine man Poe. The chemistry between the three is excellent, and remarkably Bronson's laid back persona is in stark contrast to the highly animated Coburn, but they work together like bread goes with butter ! And as was so often the case, Charlie found a suitable role in "Hard Times" for his then wife Jill Ireland, as his love interest, Lucy
Watching the film, it's hard to believe that Bronson was 54 years old when he commenced filming...Bronson's younger years saw his physique shown off in several movies, and he was still in good enough condition to still get his shirt off and flex his muscles for "Hard Times". I recollect reading two interesting descriptions about Bronson...one said "he looks like a Clark Cable that has been left out in the sun too long", and the other likened him to a bonsai tree "gnarled, twisted and rooted to the one spot" !!
Hill directs the movie with an economic style and effectively captures the hardship, struggle and cheapness of life in the Depression era...and an earthy jazz soundtrack compliments the lean feel of the film.
Plus, let's not forget the gritty fight scene choreography...and Chaney's formidable opponents. Notably the bald, grinning tattoed Jim Henry played by regular on screen bad guy, Robert Tessier...and real life stuntman cum actor Nick Dimitri as the malevolent, well dressed fighter, Street.
( Look out for : The scene early in the film at which time Coburn is sitting on his balcony reading the newspaper race guide, and you can clearly see his shirt cuffs, but as the door bell rings and Coburn leaps to his feet, he is suddenly only wearing a singlet, and then reaches for his shirt to put it on !! )
A very enjoyable movie and a worthy addition to your DVD library.
Movie Review: Excellent Bronson DVD
Summary: 5 Stars
This film is, in my opinion, one of the best Bronson films along with Honor Among Thieves, Rider on the Rain, Red Sun, and From Noon Till Three. This role is tailor made for Bronson's tough, silent persona(like Chato's Land). This film was released in 1975 but was filmed in 1974-most films, after they finish filming, go into post production, editing and then are released up to a year after they actually finish shooting the final scene. Bronson was 52 yrs old(not 54) when he appeared in Hard Times. Bronson was born in Nov. 1921 and Hard Times was shot prior to his 53rd birthday in 1974.If you watch the scene in the meat packing plant in Clint Eastwood's film Every Which Way But Loose, it seems like a direct rip-off of the Hard Times scene in Pettibon's joint--the manager of the defeated fighter won't pay up until a gun is produced. Also, in Eastwood's sequel Any Which Way You Can, Wilson, after scouting out Philo Beddoe's fighting ability, remarks "It's been a pleasure watching you work". This, to me, is a direct rip-off of Gandil's line to Chaney after the final fight in Hard Times. Interesting to note that Hard Times was released 3 yrs before Every Which Way... and 5 yrs before Any Which Way...
I happen to be a Bronson "fan" and own most of his starring role films as well as many of his supporting role films, but even if you are not all that interested in Bronson's work, you will still probably find this an excellent film in it's own right. The DVD is, in my opinion, crystal clear both in picture and sound, and gives you the added bonus of viewing in full or widescreen formats(the widescreen is 2.35:1 and is authentic widescreen). Towards the beginning of the film, there is a scene between Bronson and Coburn which takes place in an oyster bar. At one point, when Bronson is speaking, he is cut off from the scene in the fullscreen version but is completely visible in the widescreen version. Anyway, the DVD is well worth purchasing and I trust you will enjoy the film. All the best!
Movie Review: Superb
Summary: 5 Stars
This movie is a favorite.
I have the WS/FS version. The transfer is not very good; the soundtrack is mono, and does not do justice to the film. Technical issues aside, the movie is flawless. It has no special features.
If you're going to like this movie, you'll know it from the opening sequence: silence up to a diesel's rumble & whistle on the way into New Orleans; imagery to match.
Every element--acting, directing, writing, music, cinematography--is pitch-perfect. The music, in particular, is fabulous. Folk, cajun/zydecoe, dixieland, an extraordinary black gospel sequence. The location shooting, too: riverside warehouse, industrial interiors, barges and ferries, bayou community life, flop house, oyster house, Latin Quarter. Period street scenes, gorgeous automobiles, prohibition night life. You can practically smell the booze, sweat, shellfish and tobacco smoke.
The leads are truly wonderful: Bronson, Coburn, Strother Martin and Jill Ireland. So is the supporting cast.
There are many comments about the fight scenes, and I suppose they are good, but that's not what makes the movie for me. The protagonist (Bronson/Chaney) fights for money, not pleasure. He prefers knocking other people down to being himself knocked down, but he doesn't enjoy it.
Chaney has the self-confidence that comes from being good at what he does. He supports himself with his fighting, but does not live for it. Chaney lives for "the in-betweens." He is a drifter because being settled in hard times gives him no satisfaction; Chaney is an upright man in a beat-down time. His mannerisms are not genteel, though his spirit is. He does not say much, but his actions are compelling.
"Hard Times" is an old-fashioned movie about honor, loyalty, and decency and a great way to spend evening.