| Hard Times (1975) Cast:Charles Bronson,James Coburn,Jill Ireland Bronson stars as a drifter who becomes a bare-knuckled street fighter during 1933 in New Orleans, during the great depression in this excellent B.movie actioner which features the indisputably talented Bronson in a role in which he's most effective in, Hard Times is simpily put one of the best movies Bronson has made, as well as Walter Hill who directs the movie with a nice slick polish which elevates the atmosphere of the fightscenes. When one thinks of Bronson's best movie, the words Death Wish usually come up. True, Death Wish was a very good movie but Hard Times provides more texture and has a far more engrossing story which appeals to the viewer. Bronson is an actor who doesn't have to say much to be effective, his screen presence is quite imposing. However when another actor talks, Bronson listens and reacts in a way we can tell that Bronson is thinking and choosing his words wisely. Hard Times however is a classic of the genre that shouldn't be really missed. Indeed, Bronson started making some low quality movies (However I think it's fair to say that some of the movies do have merit.) but to dismiss Bronson as a total hack is without a doubt a tragedy. Hard Times is a stunning masterpiece for Bronson, that is well worth seeing. D.Walter Hill **** |