'The Harder They Fall' Updates the Western Movie
2021-10-25
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1These. People. Existed.
2Those three words appear at the beginning of the new movie The Harder They Fall, directed by Briton Jeymes Samuel.
3The story is fictional, or imaginary.
4But, the three words let watchers know that it is based on real people --- Black cowboys and Black families that populated the Old West.
5Hollywood has not made many movies about such people in the film genre known as Westerns.
6Samuel is also a musician known as The Bullitts.
7He is a fan of the western genre.
8But, his movie adds unpredictable elements.
9The songs and music, or soundtrack, for the film has a modern edge.
10International music star Jay-Z led that effort as one of the producers of the film.
11The Harder They Fall has received praise for its cinematography.
12And supporters of the movie say the actors, or cast, tell a story underrepresented in cinema.
13The gun violence is the only part of the film that is usual.
14Westerns make shootings, bodies and blood a big part of the story.
15Some moviegoers might wish there were more discussion and less violence in this updated version of a western.
16But westerns are called "shoot-em-ups" for a reason.
17Actor Jonathan Majors stars in The Harder They Fall.
18He plays Nat Love, an outlaw seeking justice for a terrible wrong he suffered as a child.
19Idris Elba plays Love's greatest enemy, Rufus Buck.
20Oscar-winning actor Regina King performs as "Treacherous Trudy" Smith, another outlaw.
21The story begins with a scene of a clergyman and his family sharing a meal.
22A knock comes at the door, and Buck enters, his face hidden under a cloth.
23Soon the parents are shot dead and their young son is cut on the face.
24The wound is in the shape of a cross.
25Years later, that boy - Love - is a known outlaw, part of a criminal group that robs other criminal groups.
26Rufus Buck is in prison, but Love learns he soon will be freed.
27One scene shows a bank robbery in Maysville.
28It is a white town.
29But the whiteness goes beyond the population.
30The whole town is white: the people, the buildings, even its rocks and horses.
31The message seems clear: traditional westerns were white.
32But, in The Harder They Fall, the Black towns are full of color.
33The story leads to a final clash between hero and antihero, as would be expected in a western.
34But there is also a suggestion at the movie's end that these characters may have a future in film.
35Could a series be in the making?
36I'm Caty Weaver.
1These. People. Existed. 2Those three words appear at the beginning of the new movie The Harder They Fall, directed by Briton Jeymes Samuel. 3The story is fictional, or imaginary. But, the three words let watchers know that it is based on real people --- Black cowboys and Black families that populated the Old West. Hollywood has not made many movies about such people in the film genre known as Westerns. 4Samuel is also a musician known as The Bullitts. He is a fan of the western genre. But, his movie adds unpredictable elements. The songs and music, or soundtrack, for the film has a modern edge. International music star Jay-Z led that effort as one of the producers of the film. 5The Harder They Fall has received praise for its cinematography. And supporters of the movie say the actors, or cast, tell a story underrepresented in cinema. 6The gun violence is the only part of the film that is usual. Westerns make shootings, bodies and blood a big part of the story. Some moviegoers might wish there were more discussion and less violence in this updated version of a western. But westerns are called "shoot-em-ups" for a reason. 7Actor Jonathan Majors stars in The Harder They Fall. He plays Nat Love, an outlaw seeking justice for a terrible wrong he suffered as a child. Idris Elba plays Love's greatest enemy, Rufus Buck. Oscar-winning actor Regina King performs as "Treacherous Trudy" Smith, another outlaw. 8The story begins with a scene of a clergyman and his family sharing a meal. A knock comes at the door, and Buck enters, his face hidden under a cloth. Soon the parents are shot dead and their young son is cut on the face. The wound is in the shape of a cross. 9Years later, that boy - Love - is a known outlaw, part of a criminal group that robs other criminal groups. Rufus Buck is in prison, but Love learns he soon will be freed. 10One scene shows a bank robbery in Maysville. It is a white town. But the whiteness goes beyond the population. The whole town is white: the people, the buildings, even its rocks and horses. The message seems clear: traditional westerns were white. 11But, in The Harder They Fall, the Black towns are full of color. 12The story leads to a final clash between hero and antihero, as would be expected in a western. But there is also a suggestion at the movie's end that these characters may have a future in film. Could a series be in the making? 13I'm Caty Weaver. 14Jocelyn Noveck reported this story for the Associated Press. Caty Weaver adapted it for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. 15____________________________________________________ 16Words in This Story 17genre -n. a kind or group of literature or art that has similar qualities 18cinematography -n. the art, process, or job of filming movies : motion-picture photography 19cast -n. the actors in a play, film, or television show 20cinema -n. the film industry; the art or method of making movie 21scene -n. a part of a play, movie, story, in which an action or activity takes place 22character -n. a person or being who appears in a story, book, play, movie or television show 23We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.