Review: Hell Or High Water Is A Classic Western In A Modern Skin
- Jun 22, 2017
- 2 min read
Hell Or High Water is testament to what can be achieved simply by being a well made movie. There's no flashy gimmicks, no twists, no fancy effects or decades old fan base. There's no overbearing cultural message, no superheroes, no aliens, no Oscar bait. It's a good movie simply because that's the way it was made.
Brothers Toby and Tanner Howard (Chris Pine and Ben Foster) begin a spree of bank robberies. There goal is simple, to raise enough money to pay off the debt that envelops the family ranch, and that left behind by their deceased mother as well as to secure the future of his sons. But no crime, regardless of intent, goes unpunished. Enter Texas Ranger's Marcus Hamilton (Jeff Bridges) and Alberto Parker (Gil Birmingham). They're old, tired and damn sure willing to get the job done, whatever it takes. And so, the chase is on.
Hell Or High Water is the best movie to come out of 2016. While it isn't my favourite, that honour belonging to Chris Pine's other film, Star Trek Beyond, it is the best. From the acting to the writing to the execution, the film is flawless in its entirety. Bridges and Foster give excellent performances, embodying their characters with such life that they feel real. Pine and Birmingham are also great though they are overshadowed by the powerhouses alongside which they stand. Foster and Bridges have done the western genre before in 3:10 To Yuma and True Grit respectively, and they take it in their stride.
It's a great looking movie as well. Sweeping Texan vistas, beautifully composed shots and, at times, an almost Leone style. It has a grit and dirtiness to it, feeling more like a real event that a clean film production.
Standing alongside No Country For Old Men as a truly great modern western, Hell Or High Water deserves your attention. It won't draw you in with explosive action of comedic writing but with genuine characters and a simple yet enthralling story. It's easy to recommend you watch this movie.
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