Review 450: Hell or High Water

Hell or High Water is a solidly made, well acted, thrilling Western film and very captivating character study.

In West Texas, divorced father Toby Howard (Chris Pine) and his ex-con brother Tanner Howard (ben Foster) carry out a series of bank robberies in order to save their family ranch all the while being pursued Texas Ranger Marcus Hamilton (Jeff Bridges) and his partner Alberto Parker (Gil Birmingham).

The plot is simple but highly effective and compelling. In a lot of ways, Hell or High Water is very much like an old fashioned Western film. We have a the classic Western archetypes such as the outlaw and the sheriff, but this film smartly puts them into a modern environment.
It's the films style, narrative as well as the characters and the situations the film puts them that make this film feel like an old fashioned Western.

The main strength of Hell or High Water is in it's characters and their actions and personalities. There are no heroes & no villains
Toby & Tanner commit acts of crime but they have loyalties and principles in that they care about each other and their family and preserving their ranch. The film also smartly and refreshing presents with a Sheriff thats not entirely 100% villainous

Director David Mackenzie's direction is taut and sharp, unravelling the 102 minute narrative with expert precision and captivating detail. The scenery is breathtaking and captures the gritty, troubled look of West Texas giving off a sense of solemn beauty, the score by Nick Cave & Warren Ellis is superb, atmospheric and gets the films tone spot on, the costumes are excellent and add to the films gritty look.

It doesn't really have any twists or surprises, but this is not a film about shock value. This a film about character.

Chris Pine, Ben Foster and Jeff Bridges are superb in their roles.

4.5/5.

The Anonymous Critic.