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      Hard Times

      PG 1975 1h 32m Drama List
      94% Tomatometer 16 Reviews 81% Audience Score 2,500+ Ratings During the Great Depression, Chaney (Charles Bronson) bare-knuckle boxes to survive. Speed (James Coburn), an avid gambler, recognizes his talent and becomes his manager. They hire a cut man named Poe (Strother Martin), and Speed borrows cash from some gangsters to bet on Chaney's fight. They win, but Speed gambles and loses his portion and remains in debt. In the end, a rival manager named Gandil (Michael McGuire) buys Speed's debt and forces Chaney to fight Speed against his toughest foe yet. Read More Read Less Watch on Fandango at Home Buy Now

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      Critics Reviews

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      Pauline Kael New Yorker Hard times offers excitement that makes you feel good; Walter Hill respects the loner myth. Oct 11, 2023 Full Review Variety Staff Variety The production has a very handsome mid-1930s New Orleans period flavour but the cast can't lick the script. Mar 26, 2009 Full Review Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times A powerful, brutal film containing a definitive Charles Bronson performance. Rated: 3/4 Oct 23, 2004 Full Review Mitchell Beaupre Paste Magazine As hard as the hits land every time, it’s the capitalist exchanging of cash and leveling up of wagers on these beaten men’s ability to sock each other out that knocks you down the hardest. Rated: 9/10 Sep 29, 2023 Full Review Dennis Harvey 48 Hills So often a monolithic actor in mediocre films, Bronson’s beady-eyed smirk in this context acquires a droll dignity suggesting graduation from the school of million hard knocks, and every supporting role is colorfully filled. Mar 16, 2023 Full Review Radio Times Staff Radio Times [T]here's much to admire here, especially the fine combination of cinematographer Philip Lathrop's images and Roger Spottiswoode's editing of the exciting fight sequences. Jan 15, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

      Audience Reviews

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      Martin B I've seen it a couple times years ago. Tuned in just to see the start recently but ended up watching the whole movie a third time. Just a very satisfying movie. Bronson at his strong silent type best. One of Coburns best chaaraters and with Struther Martin and Ireland at her beautiful but detached best the cast was near perfection. Addi in period wardrobe and stark settings that reflected hard times the movie hits all the right chords in my view. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/11/24 Full Review Nik75 J James Coburn and Charles Bronson are a solid team. Probably one of Bronson's best movies. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/05/24 Full Review Robert M Classic movie great performances all round. Bronson is superb Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 12/24/23 Full Review ANY1aBLUE Smashing combo of Coburn and Bronson, showing modern actors how it should be done. Love the story, sets and mood. Everything good here………. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 11/13/23 Full Review J S This movie managed to engage and engross me despite being based on a subject in which I have no interest. Even though it was filmed in an era where corny, one dimensional characters were due jour (think the original Battle Star Galactica), this movie was replete with gritty, complex and morally ambiguous characters. I found myself aligned with and supporting characters afflicted with addiction and whose behaviour at times would not be out of place in the mob. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/29/23 Full Review kevin c Charles Bronson plays a quiet drifter who gets involved in the bare knuckle fight game when he meets a fast talking promoter with problems of his own played by James Coburn. I quite enjoyed this one. Follows a familiar formula for the most part, but the characters and acting is done well. Directed by Walter Hill. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Movie Info

      Synopsis During the Great Depression, Chaney (Charles Bronson) bare-knuckle boxes to survive. Speed (James Coburn), an avid gambler, recognizes his talent and becomes his manager. They hire a cut man named Poe (Strother Martin), and Speed borrows cash from some gangsters to bet on Chaney's fight. They win, but Speed gambles and loses his portion and remains in debt. In the end, a rival manager named Gandil (Michael McGuire) buys Speed's debt and forces Chaney to fight Speed against his toughest foe yet.
      Director
      Walter Hill
      Producer
      Lawrence Gordon
      Screenwriter
      Bruce Henstell, Bryan Gindoff, Walter Hill
      Production Co
      Columbia Pictures
      Rating
      PG
      Genre
      Drama
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Streaming)
      May 14, 2014
      Runtime
      1h 32m
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