A film directed by Walter Hill starring Charles Bronson and James Coburn isn't exactly a hard sell for me and I'm kinda ashamed that it took me this long to see it. Hard Times takes place during the great depression, telling the story of Chane, an aging bare-knuckle boxer who scrounges around trying to make enough money to survive. On his journey he meets Speed, a low-end fight promoter, and together they form a team of sorts, stopping at every small town along their way in search of the next score. Although this is Walter Hill's first feature it clearly demonstrates his penchant for gritty, bare-boned storytelling that relies on a simple yet effective narrative and great characters. Bronson is the mild-mannered, near silent fighter and Coburn as the sleazy promoter who can talk his way out of anything. Bronson does this to survive while Coburn does it for the lavish lifestyle and together they make a great on-screen duo, with each character playing to the strength of these two screen legends. These characters couldn't be more different, creating a great character dynamic between the two of them. Much of the film is spent in dark, ugly bars, dilapidated warehouses, and unfurnished apartment buildings with Walter Hill emphasizing the rough times of the era while simultaneously capturing the extreme value of money during the depression. What is probably the most fascinating aspect of Hard Times though is how we still see the extremely wealthy individuals living a life of luxury, frequently profiting off of the less fortunate. Walter Hill's Hard Times is an impressive first-feature which captures the struggle of an era while simultaneously showing the gritty style that would define a career. 8.25/10
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AuthorLove of all things cinema brought me here. Archives
June 2023
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