Khadeja Hester

Recycled characters, a set and props that looked like an exhibit at Universal Studios In Florida, overused tropes and characters that were a bit too tidy for a western keeps me from giving this movie the four stars I really want to give it. What saves this movie, however, is a dope soundtrack that rides along beside the gun-twirling, foul-mouthed, and casually ruthless cast of bad guys—and some pretty bad girls for that matter. It was also refreshing to watch a mostly all Black cast in a Western movie which is what lends to the excitement of it all. The plot was pretty straightforward and a bit predictable but it was still fun to watch if you can get pass some things that seemed a bit out of place like the lady clad in a full-body leotard modern dancing in a saloon and dialogue that tried too hard to sound like southern drawl—especially the British ones. Regina King’s accent could’ve used a bit of brushing up as well. If you want something to watch over the weekend, I HIGHLY recommend, “The Harder They Fall.” It’s fun to look at, intoxicating to listen to and does not over-sexualize women like most movies do. It’s definitely not for the snooty, plot-dissecting community of intellectuals, but for the average movie-watcher who just wants a couple of hours of fun distraction. I’d watch it a second time just to relive some of the cool factors and there were plenty. 😎