The Harder They Fall (2021 film)
The Harder They Fall | |
---|---|
![]() Promotional release poster | |
Directed by | Jeymes Samuel |
Screenplay by |
|
Story by | Jeymes Samuel |
Produced by |
|
Starring | |
Cinematography | Mihai Mălaimare Jr. |
Edited by | Tom Eagles |
Music by | Jeymes Samuel |
Production company | |
Distributed by | Netflix |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 139 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Box office | $8,292[1] |
The Harder They Fall is a 2021 American Western film directed by Jeymes Samuel (in his feature directorial debut), who co-wrote the screenplay with Boaz Yakin. The film stars Jonathan Majors, Idris Elba, Zazie Beetz, Regina King, Delroy Lindo, Lakeith Stanfield, RJ Cyler, Danielle Deadwyler, Edi Gathegi, and Deon Cole. It is one of few Westerns whose principal cast members are all Black. Its characters are based on real cowboys, lawmen, and outlaws of the nineteenth-century American West.
The Harder They Fall premiered at the BFI London Film Festival on October 6, 2021.[2] It received a limited release on October 22, 2021, prior to streaming on Netflix on November 3.
Plot
[edit]Eleven-year-old Nat Love is eating dinner with his parents when Rufus Buck and his associate Cortez arrive. Nat's father begs Buck to spare his wife and son, but Buck shoots and kills both of Nat's parents and then carves a cross into his forehead.
Twenty years later, Love finds and kills Cortez. Meanwhile, his partners, sharpshooter Bill Pickett and quick draw Jim Beckwourth, ambush the Crimson Hood gang and steal their haul from a recent bank robbery. The lone survivor tells them the $25,000 they have stolen belongs to Buck. Love travels to meet his former lover Mary Fields, who runs a chain of saloons. Pickett brings news of the heist to Love.
Buck's gang, led by Trudy Smith and Cherokee Bill, forcefully free Buck from a train leaving from Yuma Territorial Prison. They reveal Buck has been pardoned, and they have been paid to kill the corrupt U.S. Army soldiers guarding the prison car. After slaughtering the soldiers, Buck and his gang arrive in their former stronghold of Redwood City, now run by Buck's associate, Sheriff Wiley Escoe. Learning that Escoe has used the position to profit at the expense of the town, Buck brutally pistol whips him and orders him to leave town. Buck gathers the townspeople and after killing a naysayer, demands that they raise $50,000 to save Redwood, threatening to kill and burn the property of any who resist.
U.S. Marshal Bass Reeves arrests Love after a standoff in a saloon. However, Reeves reveals to Love that Buck has been released, and he offers him a chance for revenge. Love's gang, accompanied by Fields and her friend and enforcer, Cuffee, arrive and insist on joining. They encounter Escoe, who tells them Buck has returned to Redwood. Fields volunteers to scout Redwood under the cover of offering to buy Smith's saloon. Love proposes marriage to Fields, but she turns him down.
When Fields arrives in Redwood, Smith takes her prisoner and beats her. Love's gang arrives, and Love joins Fields in captivity to save her life. Smith has Love beaten, and he in turn asks Buck to release Fields. Buck demands Love return the money he stole plus $10,000 as 'interest', requiring him to rob a bank in a white town. Love and Cuffee rob the bank without killing anyone and escape. However, the group recognizes that Buck is unlikely to release Fields willingly, so they devise a plan to rig a decoy wagon with dynamite.
They enter Redwood and the decoy wagon is destroyed, killing some of Buck's gang. Love prepares to hand over the money, but is interrupted by Cherokee Bill preparing to shoot him in the back. Beckwourth intervenes, challenging Bill to a quick draw showdown. Bill shoots and kills Beckwourth before he can finish counting down, causing a gunfight to erupt. Love, Reeves, Pickett, and Cuffee kill most of Buck's gang, and the money is destroyed in another explosion. Escoe infiltrates Buck's house but is killed by Buck, while Pickett and Love are wounded.
Fields is freed by Cuffee and pursues Smith, who she defeats in a hand-to-hand fight. Pickett is shot in the back by Bill, who is subsequently killed by Cuffee in a quick draw confrontation. Love finds Buck, who is unwilling to defend himself. Buck reveals that they are half-brothers, and that their father was once an abusive outlaw who killed his first wife (Buck's mother) when she tried to protect her son. After leaving Buck, their father eventually repented and married another woman and had Nat. He further indicates that driving Love to outlawry was his true act of revenge against their father. Love reluctantly kills Buck and closes his eyes out of respect.
Love and his companions bury Pickett and Beckwourth, alongside another grave marked "Nat Love" (implied to be the resting place of Rufus Buck), as Reeves states that the law will now consider Nat to be "dead." Cuffee joins Reeves as a deputy. Cuffee and Reeves ride off in one direction and Love and Fields in another. A woman holding a bowler hat looks at them from a distance.
Cast
[edit]- Jonathan Majors as Nat Love
- Chase Dillon as young Nat Love
- Idris Elba as Rufus Buck
- Zazie Beetz as Stagecoach Mary
- Regina King as Trudy Smith
- Delroy Lindo as Bass Reeves
- Lakeith Stanfield as Cherokee Bill
- RJ Cyler as Jim Beckwourth
- Danielle Deadwyler as Cuffee. The character was inspired by Cathay Williams.[3]
- Edi Gathegi as Bill Pickett
- Deon Cole as Wiley Escoe. The character refers to a same-named Deputy U.S. Marshal in the Indian Territory during the 1890s. He was of black and Muscogee descent.[4]
- Damon Wayans Jr. as Monroe Grimes
- DeWanda Wise as Eleanor Love, Nat Love’s Mother
- Michael Beach as Nat Love’s Father
- Julio Cesar Cedillo as Cortez
- Mark "Rhino" Smith as Carson[5]
Production
[edit]The film's original working title was The Notorious Nine.[6][7] The film was announced in July 2019, when Jonathan Majors was cast to star in it. Musician Jeymes Samuel co-wrote and directed the film.[8] Idris Elba would join in November, and Jay-Z, who would produce the film, was announced to be writing original music for the film.[9] By September 2020, Zazie Beetz, Lakeith Stanfield, Delroy Lindo and Regina King would be among new cast members added to the film.[10]
Filming had been scheduled to begin in March 2020 in Santa Fe, New Mexico, but was delayed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.[11][12] Cynthia Erivo, Wesley Snipes and Sterling K. Brown, who were initially cast, had to exit due to the delays caused by the pandemic.[13] Filming commenced in September 2020,[14][15] but was paused on October 15 after a background actor tested positive for COVID-19.[16]
Release
[edit]The film had its world premiere at the BFI London Film Festival on October 6, 2021.[17][18] It also screened at the Montclair Film Festival on October 22, 2021.[19] It received a limited release on October 22, 2021, prior to streaming on Netflix on November 3.[20][21]
Music
[edit]An original soundtrack and a film score composed by Jeymes Samuel, were released on October 29, 2021 and January 14, 2022, respectively.
Reception
[edit]On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, 88% of 181 critics gave the film a positive review, with an average rating of 7.5/10. The website's critics consensus reads: "It isn't as bold and fearless as its characters, but The Harder They Fall fills its well-worn template with style, energy, and a fantastic cast."[22] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 68 out of 100 based on 41 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[23]
Accolades
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "The Harder They Fall". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
- ^ Szalai, Georg (August 4, 2021). "Netflix's Star-Studded Western 'The Harder They Fall' to Open London Film Festival". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
- ^ Zacharek, Stephanie (October 6, 2021). "The Harder They Fall Fails to Make Enough Room for Each Star Among Its Stellar Cast". Time. Archived from the original on October 28, 2021. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
- ^ Johnson, Diedre (November 23, 2021). "True Story: What We Know About The Real-Life People of 'The Harder They Fall'". Netflix Tudum. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
- ^ Eisenberg, Eric (October 6, 2021). "Netflix's The Harder They Fall Review: A Badass And Bloody Western That Further Proves The Star Power Of Jonathan Majors". CinemaBlend. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
- ^ Chen, Nick (October 27, 2021). "Harder They Fall's Jeymes Samuel on new westerns and forgoing racist slurs". Dazed.
- ^ "The Bullitts on Facebook". Facebook. Archived from the original on April 30, 2022.[user-generated source]
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (July 24, 2019). "Netflix Sets Jonathan Majors For 'The Harder They Fall'; Jeymes Samuel Makes Helming Debut". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 16, 2021. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
- ^ N'Duka, Amanda (November 18, 2019). "Idris Elba Joins All-Black Western 'The Harder They Fall' From Producer Jay-Z". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 6, 2020. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
- ^ N'Duka, Amanda (September 11, 2020). "Zazie Beetz, Lakeith Stanfield, Oscar Winner Regina King, More Join Idris Elba & Jonathan Majors In 'The Harder They Fall' Western at Netflix". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 1, 2020. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
- ^ Grobar, Matt (March 9, 2020). "'Stranger Things' Will Shoot in New Mexico For Season 4; Netflix Touts Growing Production Hub – Hot Spots: New Mexico". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 9, 2020. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
- ^ Thorne, Will; Aurthur, Kate (March 12, 2020). "All the Shows and Movies Shut Down or Delayed Because of Coronavirus". Variety. Archived from the original on March 14, 2020. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
- ^ Kit, Borys (September 11, 2020). "Regina King, Zazie Beetz, Lakeith Stanfield and Delroy Lindo Cast in Western 'The Harder They Fall'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on November 29, 2020. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (September 14, 2020). "Johnathan Majors Joins Marvel Cinematic Universe, Lands Major Role in Next 'Ant-Man' Movie". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on September 14, 2020. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
- ^ "New Mexico Film Office Announces 'The Harder They Fall' to Begin Filming in New Mexico". Grant County Beat. September 25, 2020. Archived from the original on January 28, 2021. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (October 17, 2020). "Netflix Western 'The Harder They Fall' Stops Production Following Positive COVID Test". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 13, 2021. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
- ^ Wiseman, Andreas (August 4, 2021). "London Film Festival To Open With World Premiere Of Netflix Western 'The Harder They Fall' Starring Idris Elba, Jonathan Majors, Regina King, LaKeith Stanfield". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 4, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
- ^ Szalai, Georg (August 4, 2021). "Netflix's Star-Studded Western 'The Harder They Fall' to Open London Film Festival". Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on January 12, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
- ^ George, Liz (September 17, 2021). "Montclair Film Festival To Open with Wes Anderson's The French Dispatch". Baristanet. Archived from the original on September 17, 2021. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (August 23, 2021). "Netflix Dates Fall Movies: A Whopping 42 Movies Coming At You". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 23, 2021. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (January 12, 2021). "Netflix Unveils A 2021 Film Slate With Bigger Volume & Star Wattage; Scott Stuber on the Escalating Film Ambition". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 12, 2021. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
- ^ "The Harder They Fall (2021)". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on November 4, 2021. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
- ^ "The Harder They Fall Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on November 3, 2021. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
- ^ Inman, DeMicia (January 18, 2022). "'The Harder They Fall' Wins Big At African American Film Critics Association Awards". VIBE.com. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
- ^ Tangcay, Jazz (December 10, 2021). "'The Power of the Dog, 'Passing' Lead Alliance of Women Film Journalists Award Nominations (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
- ^ Anderson, Erik (January 4, 2022). "Austin Film Critics nominations: 'The Power of the Dog,' 'Dune,' 'Licorice Pizza' lead". AwardsWatch. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
- ^ "Congratulations to Jeymes Samuel for winning Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer at the 2022 BAFTA Awards". RocNation. March 13, 2022.
- ^ "The 2021 Black Reel Awards (BRAs) Nominations". Next Best Picture. December 16, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
- ^ Hammond, Pete (November 10, 2022). "Will Smith, Ava DuVernay & Antoine Fuqua Among New Honorees For CCA's Celebration Of Black Cinema & Television". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
- ^ "Film Nominations Announced for the 27th Annual Critics Choice Awards". criticschoice.com. December 13, 2021. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
- ^ Couch, Aaron (February 22, 2022). "'Spider-Man,' 'Shang-Chi' Lead Critics Choice Super Awards Film Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
- ^ "Critics Choice Super Awards Full Winners List: 'Spider-man: No Way Home', 'Squid Game', 'Wandavision' Are Big Winners". Geek Anything. March 21, 2022. Archived from the original on October 23, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
- ^ "44th Denver Film Festival Homepage". Denver Film. Archived from the original on January 7, 2022. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
- ^ Jamieson, Doug (December 6, 2021). "Cyrano Named Best Picture by Detroit Film Critics Society". filmotomy.com.
- ^ Grobar, Matt (October 18, 2021). "'The Harder They Fall' Cast To Receive Ensemble Tribute At Gotham Awards". Deadline. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
- ^ "The 5th Annual HCA Film Awards Ceremony Moves to Monday, February 28, 2022, Due to Rising COVID Concerns – Hollywood Critics Association". Retrieved January 19, 2022.
- ^ Stone, Sasha (December 2, 2021). "The 5th Annual HCA Awards". Awardsdaily - The Oscars, the Films and everything in between. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
- ^ Tangcay, Jazz (November 4, 2021). "Beyonce, Van Morrison, Hans Zimmer Receive Hollywood Music in Media Awards Nominations". Variety. Archived from the original on November 13, 2021. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
- ^ Darling, Cary (January 3, 2022). "'The Power of the Dog' takes a bite out of Houston Film Critics Society's nominations". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
- ^ Lewis, Hilary (January 18, 2022). "NAACP Image Awards: 'Harder They Fall,' 'Insecure' Lead Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
- ^ Nolfi, Joey (December 2, 2021). "Licorice Pizza, Will Smith hit Oscars stride among 2021 National Board of Review winners". EW.com. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
- ^ PhiladelphiaRowHomeMagazine (November 3, 2021). "KRIMES, PAPER & GLUE, and KING RICHARD Win Coveted Audience Awards at 30th Philadelphia Film Festival". Philadelphia RowHome Magazine. Archived from the original on November 9, 2021. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
- ^ Fuster, Jeremy (December 2, 2021). "Power of the Dog, Belfast Lead Nominations for IPA Satellite Awards". TheWrap. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
- ^ "2021 WAFCA Award Winners - The Washington DC Area Film Critics Association (WAFCA)". www.wafca.com. December 10, 2023. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
- ^ Benardello, Karen (December 13, 2021). "Women Film Critics Circle Honors Passing and The Power of the Dog Amongst 2021's Best Movies". Shockya.com. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
External links
[edit]- 2021 films
- 2021 action drama films
- 2021 directorial debut films
- 2021 Western (genre) films
- 2020s American films
- 2020s English-language films
- American action drama films
- American Western (genre) films
- English-language action drama films
- Netflix original films
- Film productions suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic
- Films produced by Lawrence Bender
- Films produced by Jay-Z
- Films set in the American frontier
- Films shot in New Mexico
- Films with screenplays by Boaz Yakin
- Overbrook Entertainment films
- English-language Western (genre) films