Intelligent script – tick. Quality acting – tick. Cinematography – tick. Social comment – tick.
When his mother dies, out of work Toby Howard (Pine) is losing the family ranch to the Texas Midlands Bank. Coincidentally, his brother Tanner (Foster) is released from prison and they plot to rob some of the bank’s agencies in order to pay off the loan. That way, Toby can leave the ranch to his sons who live with his ex-wife. Unknown to the brothers, they’ll be up against Texas Ranger Marcus Hamilton (Bridges) and his Native American-descendant, Alberto Parker (Birmingham).
Hell or High Water uses western film genre themes to expose the contemporary economic brokenness of west Texas. There are bank robberies, a sheriff and a town posse, a shoot-out and even some cattle herding but this is a very modern story of Americans being left behind whilst others (in this case the banks are singled out) getting rich.
Pine and Foster are strong as the two brothers but it is Jeff Bridges who swaggers his way through the tale with his sardonic and often racist perspective. If Bridges is in a film, it is usually well worth watching. It is not the most uplifting of narratives but it gives a peek of real life for millions of struggling Americans. Even Bridges’ character, presumably the hero, may not escape the mundanity of not having much financial reward as his retirement seems to offer nothing but years of sitting on his porch.
Hell or High Water received four nominations at the Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor for Bridges, Best Original Screenplay and Best Film Editing. Interestingly, it did not receive a nomination for cinematography despite it being a beautiful film to look at; every shot has been thought about.
Certificate: 15
1 hour 42 min
BBC (free until end of December) YouTube (£3.49)
Director: David MacKenzie
Cast: Chris Pine, Ben Foster, Jeff Bridges, Gil Birmingham
Crime Drama
