Hard Time (1996) User Reviews

More sex than violence, more's the pity

[JCairo · 12 March 1999]

The only way to watch this drek is in the middle of the night when insomnia rages and there's nothing else on. Allegedly a revenge flick about a thief who escapes from prison to exact vengeance on the partner who double-crossed him and sent him to the slam, it's more accurately a soft-core sex movie, with lots of languid sex scenes between babes and muscle-men, lots of t&a (silicone-enhanced), lots of licking. What it doesn't have a lot of is coherence or plot. The viewer keeps anticipating twists and turns which never materialize. When anything does happen, Peggy Lee comes to mind--"is that all there is?" Subplots, such as they are, are resolved in a lame, offhanded manner. One keeps wondering in an ostensible break-out movie, where are the cops? where's the manhunt? where's the roadblock? The "surprise" ending is, I suppose, a justification for why everything seems to go so smoothly for the protagonist. But instead of thinking "oh, yeah!! it all makes some sort of sense now," your reaction is more likely to be "oh, jeez--gimme a goddam break!" My excuse for sitting through this drivel? The aforementioned insomnia, for one. Also, the two female leads are very pretty. And I kept hoping to see more of a role for Chip Mayer, one of the thieves, since I was a big fan of his in his "Santa Barbara" days. No such luck.

Just when you want to turn it off, this movie gives you a reason to keep watching.

[Joey D · 8/10 · 7 June 1999]

This movie, with its action packed escape sequence and passionate love scenes are reminiscent of a modern Gone with the Wind. Anyone who is a fan of truly fine cinema will find it not only rewarding, but invigorating to watch. You will likely find yourself watching it numerous times to catch the "Hitchcock-esque" devices that make this such a rich film. This dark thriller is borderline between cinema and art, not unlike Tarantino's Pulp Fiction. With its numerous twists and turns, this plot sucks you in and won't let go. It is easy to see from this stirring portrayal of Michael why John Bradley was chosen as the new Robin Hood. Also, it is Jacqueline Lovell's finest work since "I Cream on Jeannie." I will definitely be keeping my eye out for Hard Time II: Angel and Linda's Fiesta.