Hard Times – Review

Chaney (Bronson) rides along the train to the station in New Orleans, getting off in town. It is 1933 and the country is in the midst of a depression. Chugging along on the train with this drifter is twangy music and a fairly simple plot dealing with life and sport drama in a world without many money-making opportunities.

As Chaney enters town through the railyard, he strolls through the industrial zone. After a quick bite at a diner, he notices a crew of men going inside a warehouse. Inside is the world of underground bare-knuckle boxing, along with high-stakes gambling to go with the fights.

One of the boxer’s managers Speed (Coburn) chirps at the crowd to drive in odds. Any big spenders in the crowd? Once the dough is placed, the fists begin swinging. So, what will this new tough guy drifter bring to this world of cash and fights? He just wants to make some money, maybe Speed can help set it up. Does Chaney’s “I have no shits to give” attitude make him the ultimate bad ass?

Hard Times is a slow-paced crawl though depression-era struggles, but it has a fairly niche focus considering its view on illicit fights. The stoic Chaney and the hustling Speed feel like classic Hollywood characters of yesteryear, and they are okay to spend some time with during the feature. The pair exchange some solid dialogue throughout and make for compelling enough main drivers.

Walter Hill has always been a pretty decent director for me, and his stories are usually well grounded and adequately presented. While I prefer most of his action movies, this gritty life drama fits his portfolio well and features some well done performances. The story covers plenty of human behavior and takes on survival during lean times.

“I wanna have a long talk with anyone betting against me.”