Hell Or High Water - directed by David Mackenzie
It's surprising to learn that the director of "Hell Or High Water"
is an Englishmen - so steeped in the feel and tone of a classic Hollywood Western as it is.
The description 'modern Western' is overused but David Mackenzie's film qualifies for sure with its barren landscapes, simple country folk, grizzled sheriff and outlaw brothers.
It is not at all difficult to imagine this film re-done as a standard western - it would absolutely work.
In fact in some ways it is not entirely unlike the recent "The Magnificent 7" on a much, much smaller scale.
This is a simple tale of two brothers who team up to rob a series of branches of a bank that has employed dodgy (although legal) practices in an attempt to steal their Mother's property after her death.
The duo have only a few days to raise enough money to prevent the loss of the land. They are pursued by an aging cop.
Dodgy land grabs, outlaw brothers, bank robberies and a sheriff - all the stuff of the western.
The film starts with Tanner and Toby Howard (Foster and Pine) holding up a small bank just as it is being opened in the morning.
Smartly they have decided to rob only small branches and to do it when they are very quiet.
They steal wads of low denomination notes from the teller drawers and leave the safes alone.
As they are not crossing into other states and are stealing small amounts of money the FBI is not interested so it is on near-retirement Sheriff Marcus Hamilton (Jeff Bridges) to deal with the men.
He and his partner Alberto (Gil Birmingham) chase down the clues and interview witnesses.
One of these is a waitress in a burger bar who took a shine to Toby and sat with him briefly as Tanner was across the street robbing the bank.
It wasn't the plan - Tanner just decided to do it on a whim without consulting his older, smarter brother.
Tanner has spent time in prison and is a loose cannon.
It is clear very early what sort of men each of the brothers are.
Toby is quiet and calm and despite his new profession as a bank robber he is a decent man.
Tanner is all reactions and no thought.
We spend a lot of time with Marcus and Alberto too and it is clear that the pair also have opposing personalities.
Marcus is all racial jibes and gut instinct - Alberto more considered and less inclined to take part in humorous banter.
We know that the whole thing is going to end up with a collision involving both sides and much of the interest is in wondering how it will play out with such a group of characters.
Tanner might be a nasty guy but he is helping Toby with a mission that is selfless and honourable so it is easy to sympathise with the 'bad guys' here.
Even when violence ensues during an ill advised attempt on a bank far too big and far too busy for two men with pistols to control sympathies remain with the robbers.
The action is nicely done too - there isn't an abundance of it but what there is is extremely well constructed.
There is great use of tracking shots during car chases and excellent crane shots for establishing shots and transitions between scenes.
This film provides an abundance of great roles and none more so that Toby - a perfect part for Chris Pine.
I have admired what he has been doing with his career beyond his role in the Star Trek movies.
He has been good in a few movies that didn't connect with audiences like "The Finest Hours" and "Z For Zachariah" and I hope that this one does.
Jeff Bridges is good as you would expect but he may need to consider dropping the gruff voice that he has employed ever since "True Grit".
It might be a quick and easy way of making the character seem old and grizzled but it is frequently difficult to understand what he is saying.
But still - his character is wonderfully written and very well played.
The only criticism I have is that Katy Mixon could have done with more screen time but that is just the "Drive Angry" fan in me talking.
She, like every other member of this cast has been chosen really, really well.
There is a wonderful scene in which Marcus and Alberto visit a steak house and the waitress who Alberto later describes as a rattlesnake has a routine that is damned near the highlight of the movie.
The humour is sparing and this is why it works so well.
The pacing is spot on and this is a rare case where the film feels exactly the correct length.
David Mackenzie has knocked this one out of the park delivering an exciting ride filled with characters we care about.
It all builds to a satisfying ending that just feels right.
A terrific film.
RATING: 82 / 100
CONCLUSION: A great piece of work - well paced, wonderfully acted and tonally absolutely perfect.
Starring: Chris Pine, Ben Foster, Jeff Bridges, Dale Dickey, Katy Mixon, William Sterchi, Gil Birmingham, Amber Midthunder, Jim Burleson, Ivan Brutsche, Margaret Bowman, Melanie Papalia
Screenplay: Taylor Sheridan
Music Score by: Nick Cave & Warren Ellis
Cinematography: Giles Nuttgens
Cinematography: Giles Nuttgens
Edited by: Jake Roberts
Running Time: 102 minutes
Language: English
Rated: R16 - violence and profanity
Running Time: 102 minutes
Language: English
Rated: R16 - violence and profanity
is an Englishmen - so steeped in the feel and tone of a classic Hollywood Western as it is.
The description 'modern Western' is overused but David Mackenzie's film qualifies for sure with its barren landscapes, simple country folk, grizzled sheriff and outlaw brothers.
It is not at all difficult to imagine this film re-done as a standard western - it would absolutely work.
In fact in some ways it is not entirely unlike the recent "The Magnificent 7" on a much, much smaller scale.
This is a simple tale of two brothers who team up to rob a series of branches of a bank that has employed dodgy (although legal) practices in an attempt to steal their Mother's property after her death.
The duo have only a few days to raise enough money to prevent the loss of the land. They are pursued by an aging cop.
Dodgy land grabs, outlaw brothers, bank robberies and a sheriff - all the stuff of the western.
 |
| Chris Pine and Ben Foster |
Smartly they have decided to rob only small branches and to do it when they are very quiet.
They steal wads of low denomination notes from the teller drawers and leave the safes alone.
As they are not crossing into other states and are stealing small amounts of money the FBI is not interested so it is on near-retirement Sheriff Marcus Hamilton (Jeff Bridges) to deal with the men.
He and his partner Alberto (Gil Birmingham) chase down the clues and interview witnesses.
One of these is a waitress in a burger bar who took a shine to Toby and sat with him briefly as Tanner was across the street robbing the bank.
It wasn't the plan - Tanner just decided to do it on a whim without consulting his older, smarter brother.
Tanner has spent time in prison and is a loose cannon.
It is clear very early what sort of men each of the brothers are.
Toby is quiet and calm and despite his new profession as a bank robber he is a decent man.
Tanner is all reactions and no thought.
 |
| Jeff Bridges and Gil Birmingham |
Marcus is all racial jibes and gut instinct - Alberto more considered and less inclined to take part in humorous banter.
We know that the whole thing is going to end up with a collision involving both sides and much of the interest is in wondering how it will play out with such a group of characters.
Tanner might be a nasty guy but he is helping Toby with a mission that is selfless and honourable so it is easy to sympathise with the 'bad guys' here.
Even when violence ensues during an ill advised attempt on a bank far too big and far too busy for two men with pistols to control sympathies remain with the robbers.
The action is nicely done too - there isn't an abundance of it but what there is is extremely well constructed.
There is great use of tracking shots during car chases and excellent crane shots for establishing shots and transitions between scenes.
 |
| Bank robberies |
I have admired what he has been doing with his career beyond his role in the Star Trek movies.
He has been good in a few movies that didn't connect with audiences like "The Finest Hours" and "Z For Zachariah" and I hope that this one does.
Jeff Bridges is good as you would expect but he may need to consider dropping the gruff voice that he has employed ever since "True Grit".
It might be a quick and easy way of making the character seem old and grizzled but it is frequently difficult to understand what he is saying.
But still - his character is wonderfully written and very well played.
The only criticism I have is that Katy Mixon could have done with more screen time but that is just the "Drive Angry" fan in me talking.
She, like every other member of this cast has been chosen really, really well.
There is a wonderful scene in which Marcus and Alberto visit a steak house and the waitress who Alberto later describes as a rattlesnake has a routine that is damned near the highlight of the movie.
The humour is sparing and this is why it works so well.
The pacing is spot on and this is a rare case where the film feels exactly the correct length.
David Mackenzie has knocked this one out of the park delivering an exciting ride filled with characters we care about.
It all builds to a satisfying ending that just feels right.
A terrific film.
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