It seems like every other week there’s some new kind of western “revival” type film coming out. Whether it's actually set in western times or a modern blockbuster with the trappings of one, the genre is still as popular as ever today as it tries to grow and evolve with the times. And then you have a film like “The Harder They Fall,” a film so effortlessly stylish and entertaining it appears effortless.
In broad strokes, the film follows outlaw Nat Love, played by Jonathan Majors (“Lovecraft Country,” “Da 5 Bloods”), as he assembles his gang consisting of Stagecoach Mary, played by Zazie Beetz (“Atlanta,” “Deadpool 2”), Jim Beckwourth, played by RJ Cyler (“Me and Earl and the Dying Girl,” “Power Rangers (2017)”), Cuffee, played by Danielle Deadwyler (“The Haves and Have Nots”), Bill Pickett, played by Edi Gathegi (“Proof,” “The Blacklist: Redemption”), and Bass Reeves, played by Delroy Lindo (“Da 5 Bloods,” “The Good Fight”), as they track down Rufus Buck, played by Idris Elba (“The Wire,” “Molly’s Game”), and his gang consisting of Trudy Smith, played by Regina King (“If Beale Street Could Talk,” “Southland”), and Cherokee Bill, played by Lakeith Stanfield (“Short Term 12,” “Sorry to Bother You”).
Yes, the cast is absolutely stacked to the sky, and each actor takes full advantage of the larger than life stakes and stylings of the film. Majors is a fantastic leader, constantly showing himself struggling with keeping a low profile while also making sure he gets what he wants. Elba is the film’s ace-in-the-hole, being dispersed on few occasions, but making the maximum impact when he is. King delivers a performance not seen by her before, maintaining a cold and ruthless persona that smiles in the face of her victims.
Beetz is just as fiery as some of her previous characters, and gets plenty of moments to shine against King in the film’s second half. Cyler’s wisecracking smart ass sensibilities come shining through and play wonderfully off of the more serious nature of Gathegi as the pair play close friends. Stanfield and Lindo continue to show why they’re some of the best actors working today by imbuing their characters with a very particular sense of morality that is purely fascinating to watch as events play out.
Yet, if ever there was a scenestealer, it's Deadwyler as Cuffee. Cuffee is, plain and simple, the heart of the movie, with an incredibly badass attitude, but also a humble, down to earth nature. She’s the film’s big emotional core, as her outsider nature allows her to question Love’s motives and decisions in a way that challenges the gang, and her charisma and fast friendships means that when bullets are flying in the third act, tension is always present.
When bullets fly, they definitely fly. Explosions and stylized violence cascade across the screen as shit hits the fan, and yet, even for all the camera tricks and fights, writer/director Jeymes Samuel and writer Boaz Yakin (“Remember the Titans,” “Now You See Me”) never lose the feeling of dread. They’re ruthless with who survives and who doesn’t throughout the entire film, leading to a palpable sense that at any moment, anyone could drop dead. It makes the action extremely satisfying to watch on a visual and emotional level, but it also backs up the film's emotional moments, allowing them to flourish. The big third act climax might have the least action, but it has the biggest emotional stakes and Samuel nails it and gives those moments the biggest impact.
Which is good because, despite being packed with great characters, dialogue, and action, the overall plot of “The Harder They Fall” is pretty typical western fare. Anyone who’s seen their fair share won’t be surprised by the events as they unfold, but it doesn’t mean they aren’t easy to get invested in. It once again goes back to the characters and how, if the writing and acting sells them, the story can come second.
“The Harder They Fall” is a fantastic feature directorial debut for Samuel and represents a clear understanding of the genre and how to deliver a flashy, emotionally charged film that also doesn’t skimp on its action. Its plot might be familiar to some, but Samuel smartly fills it with as many talented actors and whip smart dialogue as possible to make sure that, regardless of how many westerns you’ve seen, you’ll have a damn good time. 4/5
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