A piercing character study
“Hell or High Water,” now playing in general release, is a gripping heist drama keenly attuned to the outsider politics of our times.
Set in the desolate sprawl of West Texas, the film sports bank-robbing brothers Toby (Chris Pine) and Tanner (Ben Foster), who hit only branches of one specific bank.
The movie’s sly humor, which is grounded in character between the dissimilar brothers as well as the two mismatched Texas Rangers chasing them, Marcus (Jeff Bridges), an oldtimer three weeks from an unwanted retirement, and Alberto (Gil Birmingham), his Native American partner who suffers through insults and gives back as good as he gets.
That “Hell or High Water” makes you empathize with and understand (though not excuse) each member of this disparate quartet is a tribute to the way Taylor Sheridan’s screenplay works equally well as a thriller, character study and pointed social commentary.
Director David Mackenzie keeps the story moving, striking a nice balance between the jolting robbery sequences and the ruminative conversations between its two pairs of men. Movie recommendations from critics Kenneth Turan, Justin Chang and other reviewers. Click title for full review.
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Hell or High Water
Set in the desolate sprawl of West Texas, this gripping heist drama starring Jeff Bridges, Ben Foster and Chris Pine is keenly attuned to the outsider politics of our times. (Glenn Whipp) R.
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