Hard Times
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Movie Reviews of Hard Times
Movie Review: Action and Drama!
Summary: 5 Stars
Charles Bronson plays Chaney, a street-smart, aging bare-knuckle boxer, who arrives in town as a hobo on a train. He has little money, great brawn and grit - and enough wisdom to observe and learn with little reason for small talk. While having coffee at a downtown diner, he notices activity in a nearby building. Watching a no-holds barred street-fight, he realizes he can win and make some easy money. James Coburn plays Speed, the two-bit promoter who books Chaney in street fights in small towns. Chaney has a soft side, trying to find love and adopting a stray cat, with scenes showing he cares for it. He is briefly involved in a love affair with the lovely Lucy, Jill Ireland - Bronson's real-life wife. This goes nowhere, Lucy wants stability, but Speed is strong and knows one gets hurt in life by showing feelings and forming relationships, even with a cat. So, it is back to a final gut-wrenching fight to show if Chaney is really as good as he thinks.
Even though this film is focused on male prowess and survival, it pulls its weight as a great drama and has fantastic performances by all. The movie keeps a steady strong pace, and Bronson and Coburn play on each other with great synergy meant for these rolls. Strother Martin, as Poe, is perfect sidekick and doctor of sorts. Robert Tessier, plays a great role as the toughest fighter that Bronson floors. He has tattoos and bald head with perfect face for fighter and grit of expressions.
A film nor of sorts, with beautiful scenes of New Orleans and music to frame appropriate scenes. The movie is a history of how prize fighting started and what it takes to be a man in hard times.
Movie Review: "That's One Way, Want To See Another?"
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a great 'male bonding' film. You know tough guys, bare knuckles, gambling New Orleans style, winner take all. That kind of stuff! Add to that Charles Bronson, James Coburn and Strother Martin and you've got a hit on your hands. A hit, get it?
Set during the Depression Era in the 30's, Chaney (Bronson) drifts into town on a southbound freight train. Broke and hungry he immediately begins to look for a way to make some money doing what he does best, fight. Quickly proving himself to be a formidable foe he hires a local down-on-his-luck gambler and promoter named 'Speed' (Coburn) to set-up his fights. Poe (Martin) is also hired on as Chaney's "cut-man" and the three are off to make some fast money.
As Chaney's reputation grows an eventual showdown looms on the horizon with the toughest, dirtiest fighter in town, Jim Henry (Robert Tessier). The big money is within reach if Chaney is really as good as he thinks.
Great performances by all. Bronson and Coburn are magic together and Strother Martin is, as always, the consumate character actor. As for Robert Tessier, well they just don't get any meaner then him. Truly one of the great bad guys of film!
So gentleman send the ladies out for the evening, put the beer on ice, order the pizza and invite a couple of buddies over. Just don't get carried away and try to duplicate anything you see on the screen.
Movie Review: A Knockout
Summary: 5 Stars
Many like to laugh at Charles Bronson(myself included) because of his typecasting in 80s vigilante style action flick where he's usually portrayed as a senior citizen taking out the scum of the earth. You won't be laughing at him in Hard Times. Bronson made good movies, played good roles(see The Great Escape for another good example). Hard Times is one good movie. Bronson is the textbook definition of "tough guy". He plays a street fighter in the 30s who doesn't say much, but can knock the taste right out of your mouth. Basically, it's the Bronson version of Every Which Way But Loose, minus the laughs and the ape. Watch him beat the snot out of guys who think they're tougher than nails, and woo Jill Ireland in the process. Watch James Coburn give another great performance(as usual). Watch the movie, man!! It's astounding that Bronson was 54 when he did this. 54!!! He's solid muscle in this film, you'd have to be crazy to want to fight the guy! Vin Diesel? Russell Crowe? Amateurs! Tough guy wannabees! You won't see them looking like this and kicking tail when they're 54, that's for sure. It may be an all but forgotten film now, but thank god for dvd. That means you'd better march your butt down to the video store. Pronto.Movie Review: Bronson Hard as the times
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a great movie.
Bronson is left with fairly minimal dialogue to worry about,
but that is not what his opponnents should be worrying about.
He is definitely lean and mean but desperate times call for these measires(sorry for the cliche) he fights for survival and the bare essentials he and his family need to live.
The depression era is portrayed in the way that it should be,hard,filthy and above all with a thick layer of mistrust coming from all of the actors,Coburn is great as the mouthy fight fixer and Jill Ireland and Bronson bring their real life love to the proceeding's.
The fight scenes are fantastic,
I never get the feeling that i am being subjected to watching Bronson stand in stunt men,
Bronson's bare knuckles talk more quickly and project more about the man than any amount of script could ever manage to do.
I have been watching The Mechanic at present and this will be my next stop for more than the first time..
Bronson is never to everyone's taste however if you enjoy tough,reality driven entertainment
and bare knuckles drawing blood,you will absolutely love this.
Bravo Bronson.
Ian.
Movie Review: A great movie that holds its entertainment value 39 year later.
Summary: 5 Stars
This depression era film captures the era brilliantly. The story is good and believable, involves the trickery and honor amongst junior gangsters, and provides lessons in the values of honesty, perseverance, determination.
James Coburn is priceless as supporting actor, as is Strother Martin, fresh off the set of Burch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. My favorite scene is when he boxes with Bob Tessier, the reputed unbeatable street fighter (Which is the European name of the film) and realistically and uncommonly uses combination punches and counter-punches. He obviously had boxed before and knew how to box. He liked to do his own stunt work, and this movie shows it.
His relationship with his actual wife in the movie is also special. The directness with which they dealt with one another causes one to believe that is how they really were in "real life". I highly recommend it; while not a exactly in the family film category, my 11 year old got its message and loved it. I highly recommend this film, which I consider a classic.