If you have been starved of your cowboy movies, then you will not be disappointed with Londoner Jeymes Samuel’s new movie, The Harder they Fall.
From the very first minute, it comes straight out of the blocks and hits the ground running.
The basic story of The Harder They Fall begins when outlaw Nat Love discovers that his enemy Rufus Buck is being released from prison, so he rounds up his gang to track Rufus down and seek revenge.
Those riding with him in this assured, righteously new school Western includes his former love Stagecoach Mary, his right and left-hand men hot-tempered Bill Pickett, and fast drawing Jim Beckwourth and a surprising adversary-turned-ally.
Rufus Buck has his own fearsome crew, including “Treacherous” Trudy Smith and Cherokee Bill, and they are not a group that knows how to lose.
The film allows the audience to take on board, exactly what gang is planning to do what to the other gang, and when.
It began principal photography on October 4th, 2020, and by December 19th, 2020, filming came to an end.
Filming actually took place in Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, and there are no drab old cowboy towns here.
The saloons sparkle, the sun is shining, the sky is blue and the white man’s city is…really all WHITE!
Samuels loves his music, and it seems even the cowboys and their horses swagger along in time to the upbeat soundtrack.
Fairly violent in places, but all ways mixed with a touch of humour.
Bright colours, great costumes and some incredible scenery all add to the spectacular.
Samuels has created some superb performances from the supporting cast and the mainly black cast is led by the likes of Idris Elba, Jonathan Majors, Zazie Beetz, and more.
You will relish the scenes when they hold up a train in the desert, to rescue Rufus Buck, played brilliantly by Britain’s Idris Elba, who’s entrance from heavily guarded save is very powerful.
Not only are the predominantly black cast well known, but the team behind this exciting new movie include producers Jay-Z, Lawrence Bender, and James Lassiter.
And this original Western Movie was directed and produced by Jeymes Samuel, who also co-wrote the screenplay alongside Boaz Yakin.
Samuel’s offers the audience a front row seat to the action, and his camera angles are very original with great use of overhead shots of some fast gun battles.
This new Netflix movie has all the makings of grabbing a ton load of awards, and the music isn’t too shabby either. By the way Samuels wrote the music too!
Enjoy!