The Harder They Fall (2021)

While the events of this story are fictional... These. People. Existed.

The history of the western genre is one of myth-building, one designed to tell a certain narrative, a narrative that erases the stories of so many, centres the importance of certain people only, and justifies a history of violence and genocide. Only recently have there begun to be a critical mass of westerns which challenge that narrative. Yes there were black cowboys, outlaws, and lawmen. Many of those actual historical figures have been woven into this fictional cowboy story that is both traditional western embracing many of its classic tropes, and modern action movie featuring innovative story telling techniques like we see from auteur directors of our age. 

Director Jeymes Samuel, yes that guy, the Bullitts, brother to singer Seal, balances the tensions of this movie remarkably incorporating the audacious film making styles of a Baz Luhrmann or a Quintin Tarantino (but finding a visual and musical language all his own) while setting it all in a down to earth western even down to the final shootout climax that tells a damn good story that pushes all the requisite oldtimey buttons. 

And he fills his film with one of the best casts you could imagine. At the centre are Delroy Lindo, the statesman of the group who I feel has been doing some of his best work recently, as well as relative newcomer Jonathan Majors who has been strong in most of what I've seen him in so far but here really breaks out as the real historical figure Nat Love. But look at the rest of this cast -- it is a dream come true and everyone brings their A game. Weather its Elba's complicated villain, King's ambitious gangster, Beetz' independent entrepreneur, Stanfield's reflective sharp shooter, Deadwyler's gender non-conforming dynamo... I mean it goes on and on. 

I don't want to imply that Samuel copies anyone. He's found his own tone and voice with this film that mixes a strong kinetic energy with moments of intimacy, all tied together with a clever musical song score that gives The Harder They Fall a real sense that we seeing something unique here.  

Samuel's story explores the creation of a nation that is looking to exclude large parts of its population and the people who are desperate to carve out their piece even if it means making bad choices. It uses the western genre's morality play to juxtapose different players through a rock-and-a-hard-place plot which leaves much in the shades-of-grey department. No one is guiltless. No one is unsympathetic. Instead we see a group a people making their way in a harsh country that doesn't want them. Samuel builds his characters from the ground up. They may not bare much resemblance to the historical figures they take their names from but that's not the point. People of colour existed in the old west and they belong in these stories. 

Samuels takes his time to tell this story, through his visuals, his characters, and his rich, entertaining dialogue. The Harder They Fall is damn good storytelling and a hell or a great ride. 

The Harder They Fall

Starring: Jonathan Majors, Idris Elba, Delroy Lindo, Regine King, Zazie Beetz, Lakeith Stanfield, RJ Cyler, Danielle Deadwyler, Dion Cole, Edi Gathegi, Damon Wayans Jr. 

Director: Jaymes Samuel

Writers: Boaz Yakin, Jaymes Samuel