Hard Times

release year: 1975
genre: action/drama
viewing setting: home DVD, 8/24/05 and 1/16/01 and home laserdisc 2/5/99

synopsis: In Depression-era New Orleans, a drifter makes his living with his fists.

impressions: Generally an entertaining movie, though it had what I call the "Seventies Problem": lots of mumbled dialogue that doesn't make sense even if you can hear it. This is even tough on a DVD without English subtitles. Still, the fistfights were direct and well-done, and the main character took no crap from anyone - a good attitude. I thought the relationship with the girl was a bit contrived, but all in all, the characters in this movie seemed to act and talk like people did back in those days.

something this movie has that no other movie has: A bare-knuckles fight in a Louisiana bayou.

acting: This is the kind of role that Charles Bronson was born to play: tough, simple, a man of few words. James Coburn is good as the con man/fight promoter/unwise gambler. Robert Tessier (a big bald villain-type who you've seen in dozens of movies and TV shows) is one of the guys who Bronson fights.

final word: Good simple Bronson action.

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