REVIEW: THE HARDER THEY FALL

4/5

The Bigger They Come.

139 Mins. Starring: Jonathan Majors, Idris Elba, Zazie Beetz, Regina King, Delroy Lindo, Lakeith Stanfield, RJ Cyler, Danielle Deadwyler, Edi Gathegi, Deon Cole, Damon Wayans Jr., DaWanda Wise & Michael Beach. Director: Jeymes Samuel. 

C. A. Boseman. The name of the late, great, 'Black Panther' and '42', 'Get On Up', 'Marshall' and 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' actor (were he was nominated for a posthumous Oscar, but was bested by Anthony Hopkins' 'The Father', which I watched for the first time this week and it floored me as not only a powerful performance but solidarity to those struggling. Sir Anthony deserved every award). The beautiful name of a soul as such who gave us so much in so little time and had so much more to show is painted on the side of a train carriage he more than Easter egg owns like the land around him in beautiful tribute for this neo look of the old west. "While the events of this story are fictional" the start of Jeymes Samuel's sensational and massive mainstream movie begins. "These. People. Existed." Full stop. In more ways than one. Referencing 'Django', but becoming even more 'Unchained' than that Tarantino movie-no Leo DiCaprio-for the ultimate Black Western that truly matters and even blazes saddles at Mel Brooks comedy classic. Nincompoop. Nit. No N word is welcome here and will be met with a bullet like The Bullitts of this great British singer/songwriter Samuel who can now add "Hollywood director" to his resume. One who most recently got behind the directors lens for the 2017 'Legacy' Jay-Z documentary. Shawn Carter himself also serves and executive producer as well as curating one hell of a classic soundtrack dubbed, 'The Harder They Come'. As his and Kid Cudi's 'Guns Go Bang' six-shooter sets off the start of this picture and the Bond intro rivalling opening credits that introduce us to the rival gangs in this epic saloon that will soon become cult as well as historic folklore. And if that wasn't enough you'll get some of the best songs you've heard from Ms. Lauryn Hill ('Black Woman'), the voice of Cee-Lo Green ('Blackskin Mile') and the Verzuz duel winner Jadakiss of The Lox (who assists Jay amongst others on the posse cut, 'King Kong Riddim' that beats its chest with pride). Not to mention other soul-stirring standards that gives this cinematic masterpiece more mesmerizing moments across the plains of your laptop and smartphone screens as it deserves to be in the saloon of a grander theatre. 'The Harder They Fall' is the biggest they come. 

Strong Black Leads strong arm the Netflix movie of the year. Assembling more avenging legend than the Lakers in Los Angeles, California for your La LA Land city of stars. With a cross carved into his forehead by an inglorious bastard, Boseman's 'Da 5 Bloods' co-star reuniting with more Jonathan Majors is MAJOR. You're going to remember the name of this 'Loki' and forthcoming 'Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania' (how about Bill Murray being in the M.C.U. too? Grandest since Goldblum) Marvel. The One Who Remains? Nah! More than that. We know him as Kang the Conqueror. A Marvel villain so legendary he could even make Thanos bend to his will at the snap of his fingers. The 'Lovecraft Country', 'White Boy Rick' and 'The Last Black Man In San Francisco' actor amazes amongst all the Academy company and duelling Western heroes that have rocked a stetson before him. From Jamie Foxx to the spaghetti of Clint Eastwood. He won't be denied as he rides. Breaking the fourth wall to look at us right between the eyes singing a spiritual and holding on to the lasting note of the fact that "that fear from me. Is in a distant view". You better believe it! "WHOO!" He's not the only one making his name amongst all the Oscar's in this gold standard. How about 'Me, Earl and the Dying Girl', 'Power Rangers' and 'Scream' star RJ Cyler, "lightning with the blam, blams"? Spinning with swagger, no kid has been a hell of a shot better since a young Leonardo in 'The Quick and The Dead' Sharon Stone led ensemble. But then again maybe 'Watchmen' and 'Being Mary Jane' star Danielle Deadwyler dead-eye shoots straighter, as she has us all fooled and captivated with her passion and vision. Not to mention at one point coming into shot with an even more epic look than a superhero landing, akin to an 'Untouchable' Union Station Andy Garcia. 'Into The Badlands' the Darwin of a 'First Class' and a little wasted X-Men actor Edi Gathegi gives us more in the scope from the rooftops ike Lee Byung-hun and 'Training Day' and 'The Guilty' superstar Ethan Hawke reuniting with Denzel Washington for Antoine Fuqua's game-changing 'The Magnificent Seven' remake on a set we are sure is the same. Whilst 'Black-ish' veteran Deon Cole also rounds out and up a class cast featuring Netflix Spike Lee series remake of 'She's Gotta Have It', Nola Darling herself, DeWanda Wise and 'Third Watch' and 'Aquaman' underrated actor Michael Beach who both set the stage perfectly, leaving us charged for the rest of the movie. There's even a Wayans brother too. Damon Wayans Jr. continuing to make his own name everytime he comes harder in this fall. 

"2021 is the year I play cowboys", 'Concrete' Netflix one, Idris Elba tells us. And the 'Luther-an' who with those inner city blues and his blockbuster holler of 'The Suicide Squad' is on another year of his career after coming back from the COVID-19 of 2020. And to think the Bond rumoured agent is yet to put back on his red tie and tweed overcoat for the feature length 'Luther' film. He is a burgundy blazer and a brimstone of firey hate with hell to pay, as his character bonds this movie the moment he is freed from the quarantine tombstone cell of his chains. Slow-motion strolling through a melee of ball bearings and splintered wood on the greatest of all train robberies, this Gunslinger owns this picture with 'Dark Tower' precision and a new definitive of darkness and danger to his craft down the wire. He's a coiled spring of a fuse lit with venom that's ready to gun down anyone in the street of broad daylight at a moments notice like Denzel did his character in 'American Gangster' (c'mon, its been more than a decade). Now 'If Beale Street Could Talk' it would tell you that Oscar winner and Los Angeles times Union Station bubbled host Regina King earns her spurs and place amongst all these other crowning achievements. The 'One Night In Miami' director of legends like Ali, Malcolm, Cooke, Brown and other young Kings brings the heat and the odd-job of a bowler hat as iconic as her 'Watchmen' get-up. She has her work cut-out for her though with 'Atlanta's' very own Zazie Beetz. The 'High Flying Bird' of Netflix hoops and both 'The Joker' and 'Deadpool 2' Domino makes her own luck the minute she hammer the but of a shotgun on her stage that she holds as she scene steals. And the bucking back-shot of that blunderbuss serves as its own set-piece character throughout this film. Her ATL co-star and  'Selma', 'Straight Outta Compton', 'Get Out', 'Sorry To Bother You' and 'Jesus and the Black Messiah' one Lakeith Stanfield also sharp shoots some support, but did you ever think you would hate this guy? Sorry to break it to you, but this is just how good an actor Stanfield is. Now is that everybody you could think of for this epic ensemble of black icons in avengance for one of the most important movies of the month, year, decade and even century when it comes to this genre? No?! What, you wanted more like Benedict Wong in another Marvel movie (shout out to his karaoke scene in 'Shang-Chi'. There's plenty of room at the 'Hotel California')? Then how about 'Get Shorty' and 'The Good Fight' of Delroy Lindo that is the law in this movie? Did you miss him? Because he should have got his nomination for his fourth Spike Lee film ('Malcolm X', 'Crooklyn', 'Clockers') 'Da 5 Bloods', forget flowers. But reuniting in a major way with Jonathan after their emotional embrace of da 'Bloods' blew up (how about the acting mined in that explosive rope-pull last year?) Lindo is another big reason we've been excited for this movie the moment the terrific trailer dropped all the big names in bullets and blood. The only titles more legendary are the real cowboys, lawmen and outlaws of the 19th century American West that are honoured here. Its been far too long a time, but as Majors' Nat Love rob's a bank in literally the whitest town you have seen he remarks with a ironic smirk, "times sure have changed." Haven't they? Let's hope they continue to do so more as the years ride on to the sunset of a new hero, before the dawn of a brand new day after this emotional. And evoking end. Because this fall, no movie comes harder. TIM DAVID HARVEY. 

Further Filming: 'Da 5 Bloods', 'Concrete Cowboy', 'Django Unchained'.