Director: Jeymes Samuel
Writers: Jeymes Samuel and Boaz Yakin
Stars: Jonathan Majors, Zazie Beetz, and RJ Cyler
Synopsis: When an outlaw discovers his enemy is being released from prison, he reunites his gang to seek revenge in this Western.
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Western-styled films have always held a special place in my heart. From films like True Grit (2010), News of The World, and D’Jango Unchained. It seems like an eternity has passed by since we’ve received a wholesome western film. Between The Harder They Fall and Concrete Cowboy, I’d say that 2021 is becoming one of the best years of black westerns we’ve seen in decades. This project has been on my radar for briefly due to so many many films and series sprouting from the ground. I do admit that I was afraid this film was going to slip through my fingers and float into my endless backlog of series and movies that I’ll get to “eventually” but thankfully it didn’t. The black representation in The Harder They Fall is something out of this world and I am beyond excited that Jeymes Samuel decided to create an all-black western not only for representation purposes but to remind viewers that the old west had a little more color than most would care to admit. From start to finish this film captures the essence of the old west while planting historical figures in an original story.
If you haven’t figured it out by now. Westerns have always held a special place in my heart. There’s something about the old west that creates some of the finest and engaging stories ever told. And The Harder They Fall takes such a simple narrative and amplifies it ten times over. The story is straightforward. Nat Love, played by Jonathan Majors crosses paths with his old archenemy due to some unfinished business with Rufus Buck played by Idris Elba. I’ve never heard Idris portray a western American accent before and I must say, I was impressed. Rufus and Nat have a lot of history with each other which makes for a compelling dynamic as the story unfolds. The rest of the cast is in rare form with phenomenal performances by Edi Gathegi, Zazie Beetz, Regina King, and Danielle Deadwyler. This is the first time I have seen Regina King and Lakeith Stanfield play a villainous role and I must say they knock it out of the park. Especially Regina. I never knew she could be that menacing as Trudy Smith. It sent chills down my spine.
The costume design and set pieces were incredible. From what I could tell this film was done with all practical effects which make for a bloody good time (literally). Even though this story is fiction the characters feel real and you can definitely tell that everyone on set was giving it their A-game. Jeymes Samuel does a fantastic job with the aesthetic design and letting this story feel as old and vintage as the old west itself. And the camera work is very clever especially with the ability to play around with a lot of first-person camera work mixed in with the gorgeous scenery of Chama and Sante Fe, New Mexico. The writing in this film was cleverly balanced between humor and the drama of the old west. There is a plentiful amount of jokes, heartfelt moments, and serious dialogue in this tale of western outlaws.
Now we all know a good old fashion western film is nothing without its soundtrack and the music is something that’s not necessarily new but it works with the scale and theme of the story. Mulitple artists from Koffee, CeeLo Green, and Kid Cudi make an appearance on the soundtrack. It’s always great to see an artist create original songs for films that help expand the representation of their culture. There is a lot of western hip hop track in the film that fit wonderfully. There seems to be a new wave of style in which composers blend modern music into period pieces. You see this in shows like Dickinson where most of their soundtrack has a modern feel to it even though the story takes place in a different age. This is one of those things where if done right the payoff could be well received and in this case, it does.
The Harder They Fall is a love letter to the old west. And belongs to be ranked among the best westerns to ever appear on your TV screen. There are plenty of old west representation stories to be told within different communities. This film was made with love and care to those whose names might have been forgotten in the sands of time and is a must-watch to Netflix bingers across the globe.
