Tag Archives: Westerns

Actors, Movie Reviews, Movies

‘The Harder They Fall’ Isn’t Anything Special but It Is a Refreshing Change of Pace

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I’m one of those African-American young women who love Westerns. In fact, I’ve loved them ever since I was a kid. Gunsmoke is one of my favorite shows of all time alongside Avatar: The Last Airbender and Sherlock and if I find a Western film I’m watching it because I absolutely love this genre.

Of course, I haven’t seen all of the great Westerns, but I’m finding more every year and it is a rewarding experience.

Now Netflix has given me something I always wanted to see but was never given; a Western starring Black cowboys. When I saw the trailer for The Harder They Fall I knew for a fact I was going to watch it. And when it dropped yesterday on Netflix I sat down with my sister, who’s also a Western fan, and we watched the two-hour and ten-minute film.

Netflix Western Movie 'The Harder They Fall': Coming to Netflix in November 2021 - What's on Netflix

First off, The Harder They Fall is not an instant classic; it’s a mediocre Netflix cowboy flick whose shining brilliance is assembling a Black cast that brought flavor to a story that was very bland. Regina King was the undoubted MVP of the film. She imbued every scene with a sense of power that had me whooping and cheering for her, reminding us why she’s the only actor in the cast who has an Oscar.

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Horror, Movie Reviews, Movies

My Review of Two Classics: ‘The Shooting’ and ‘Eyes Without a Face’

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I like watching classic movies. They reveal quite a few of the less-than-subtle inspirations for famous movies nowadays while also shining in their own right, providing quite an enjoyable experience.

Today, I was almost about to watch the 1930s’ murder mystery The Thin Man and Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps but I was sidetracked by The Shooting, a western made in 1966 which featured none other than Jack Nicholson. I had to see what it was about.

The Shooting (1966) | The Criterion Collection

Turns out, The Shooting is the strangest Western I’ve ever seen, relying on a somewhat riveting storyline that never lets the viewer know what’s happening until the conclusion which was so shocking and unexpected that my mind was positively blown. It wasn’t the best Western I had ever seen and yet it’s one I’ll definitely remember for its unique qualities.

4/5 stars

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Movie Reviews, Movies

‘3: 10 to Yuma’: Another Great Western

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Man, I love Westerns. While browsing through Amazon Prime Video I noticed a Western that caught my eye simply because of the two actors that straddled the poster; Russel Crowe and Christian Bale, two of my favorite male actors of all time. It was no surprise then that I would end up liking the movie…a lot.

3: 10 to Yuma had me riveted pretty much from beginning to end and had me constantly guessing how the story was going to end. None of my predictions came true, by the way.

The last Country Western-inspired film I watched was Unforgiven which I found to be totally boring. This movie was anything but boring and I am glad I took the time to watch it. What a fantastic story!

I’m giving this movie 4.5 out of 5 stars and 95 out of 100. It’s not perfect but boy was it entertaining.

I thank you for reading and I hope you have a splendid day.

Movie Reviews, Movies

‘Hostiles’ Is a Compelling Tale of Friendship and Forgiveness

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(I’m reposting this, for this film is a great movie to watch this Thanksgiving…or period.)

I love a good Western. I always have. And after watching No Country for Old Men my intrigue in fantastic Western flicks has grown. So, yesterday, I watched a film that was said to be an enjoyable movie last year and that was Hostiles. This movie stars Christian Bale in a gripping story about a retiring soldier named Joe who is faced with the final task as a soldier to escort a group of Indians to their home. At first, the prospect of escorting the Indians to their reservation was repugnant to him, especially considering that the Indians’ leader, Chief Yellow Hawk, had brutally killed his friends in the past. But after he reluctantly took the job (he had a greater incentive when he was threatened to be court-martialed) the movie’s story began.

Hostiles is very much a film about companionship and the power of forgiveness. Each major character had faced some sort of tragedy and had perceived notions of those around them because of those tragedies.

SLIGHT SPOILERS AHEAD!

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Movie Reviews, Movies

Movie Review Flashback: Reviewing ‘The Ballad of Buster Scruggs’

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Haven’t seen The Ballad of Buster Scruggs? Check out my review of this Coen Brothers’ Oscar-nominated hit.

I haven’t seen Roma yet but I did watch The Ballad of Buster Scruggs after my mother saw it and said it was a must-see. And when I learned that Joel and Ethan Coen (writers/directors of Oscar-winning No Country for Old Men) had made the film my intrigue rose considerably. Sure enough, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs is easily one of the best movies I have ever seen.

theballadofbusterscruggsbankrobber.jpg

It tells six stories over a two hour and thirteen-minute runtime that range from cynically comedic and disturbingly dark to rivetingly triumphant and slightly horrifying. Joel and Ethan Coen take their brilliant genius of storytelling back to the Old West in a stunning fashion that leaves one reeling by the film’s conclusion.

I love Westerns and this movie reminded me why. No Country for Old Men is my favorite movie of all time and The Ballad of the Buster Scruggs is definitely another film I will add to my list of favorite movies.

It’s also a rather interesting film because it’s, in part, a musical as well. But don’t let this make you depict in your mind a film that is on part musically with films like An American in Paris or The Wizard of Oz. It may feature some singing but it isn’t at all composed in the classic veins of a musical. Not at all.

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Movie Reviews, Movies

Movie Review Flashback: ‘Hostiles’ Is a Compelling Tale of Friendship and Forgiveness

Leave a comment

I love a good Western. I always have. And after watching No Country for Old Men my intrigue in fantastic Western flicks has grown. So I watched a film that was said to be an enjoyable Western and that was Hostiles. This movie stars Christian Bale in a gripping story about a retiring soldier named Joe whose final task is to escort a group of Indians to their home. At first, the prospect of escorting the Indians to their reservation was repugnant to him, especially considering that the Indians’ leader, Chief Yellow Hawk, had brutally killed his friends in the past. But after he reluctantly took the job (he had a greater incentive when he was threatened to be court-martialed) the movie’s story began.

Hostiles is very much a film about companionship and the power of forgiveness. Each major character had faced some sort of tragedy and had perceived notions of those around them because of those tragedies.

SLIGHT SPOILERS AHEAD!

Continue reading Movie Review Flashback: ‘Hostiles’ Is a Compelling Tale of Friendship and Forgiveness →