HELL OR HIGH WATER
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This splendid modern-Western has more than a hint of Coen Brothers around the edges.
This splendid modern-Western has more than a hint of Coen Brothers around the edges.
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But where the siblings tend toward a heightened, often violent experience, British director David McKenzie keeps this grounded in a more honest, and only occasionally violent, reality – and it’s much better for it.
Working from a taught script by Taylor Sheridan (who wrote the exceptional Sicario), McKenzie grabs attention from the get-go, and doesn’t let up. Toby and Tanner Howard (Chris Pine (Star Trek) and Ben Foster (The Program)) are two brothers who have turned to robbing small town banks in west Texas. There’s a purpose (save the family ranch) and a motive (their family was driven into poverty by the bank group they’re refunding themselves from): retiring Sheriff Marcus Hamilton (Jeff Bridges in a standout performance - ‘genius’ some people say, and it’s hard to argue) is trying to join the dots before anyone gets killed.
Less a gun-totin’ western adventure, although there’s plenty of both, Hell Or High Water is primarily a morality play as three disparate, and desperate, men circle one another in an attempt to do what they see as the right thing. “We aint stealing from you, we’re stealing from the bank,” says Toby to a frightened teller, a scene that underscores the entire movie. As you find yourself rootin’ for the boys who are righting wrongs committed by the bank, you also find yourself rootin’ for the Sheriff who’s righting wrongs committed by the boys. It’s a delightful confliction, particularly when turned on its head to test family bonds. Justification and consequence, these are two words that clatter around this movie like pins in a bowling alley.
Bridges, Foster and Pine are each splendid; Pine proving something of a revelation as he rises to a greater challenge than his familiar blockbuster roles. They are the heart of this film which would sink with a lesser cast, and a lesser director. McKenzie has form with character studies and compact stories, and shows how easily he can turn acorns into oaks. Hell Or High Water is terrific, with all the pathos, irony, humour and wrenching emotion that you’d expect from such a deceptively simple story. It is the kind of must-see film that deftly bridges high-entertainment with art-house in a way that lingers long into the future. One of the years best films.
// COLIN FRASER
Previewed at the QT Theatre, Sydney, on 6 October 2016.
Working from a taught script by Taylor Sheridan (who wrote the exceptional Sicario), McKenzie grabs attention from the get-go, and doesn’t let up. Toby and Tanner Howard (Chris Pine (Star Trek) and Ben Foster (The Program)) are two brothers who have turned to robbing small town banks in west Texas. There’s a purpose (save the family ranch) and a motive (their family was driven into poverty by the bank group they’re refunding themselves from): retiring Sheriff Marcus Hamilton (Jeff Bridges in a standout performance - ‘genius’ some people say, and it’s hard to argue) is trying to join the dots before anyone gets killed.
Less a gun-totin’ western adventure, although there’s plenty of both, Hell Or High Water is primarily a morality play as three disparate, and desperate, men circle one another in an attempt to do what they see as the right thing. “We aint stealing from you, we’re stealing from the bank,” says Toby to a frightened teller, a scene that underscores the entire movie. As you find yourself rootin’ for the boys who are righting wrongs committed by the bank, you also find yourself rootin’ for the Sheriff who’s righting wrongs committed by the boys. It’s a delightful confliction, particularly when turned on its head to test family bonds. Justification and consequence, these are two words that clatter around this movie like pins in a bowling alley.
Bridges, Foster and Pine are each splendid; Pine proving something of a revelation as he rises to a greater challenge than his familiar blockbuster roles. They are the heart of this film which would sink with a lesser cast, and a lesser director. McKenzie has form with character studies and compact stories, and shows how easily he can turn acorns into oaks. Hell Or High Water is terrific, with all the pathos, irony, humour and wrenching emotion that you’d expect from such a deceptively simple story. It is the kind of must-see film that deftly bridges high-entertainment with art-house in a way that lingers long into the future. One of the years best films.
// COLIN FRASER
Previewed at the QT Theatre, Sydney, on 6 October 2016.
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STARRING
Jeff Bridges
Chris Pine
Ben Foster
DIRECTOR
David MacKenzie
SCREENWRITER
Taylor Sheridan
COUNTRY
USA
CLASSIFICATION
MA15+
RUNTIME
102 minutes
AUSTRALIAN
RELEASE DATE
October 27, 2016
Jeff Bridges
Chris Pine
Ben Foster
DIRECTOR
David MacKenzie
SCREENWRITER
Taylor Sheridan
COUNTRY
USA
CLASSIFICATION
MA15+
RUNTIME
102 minutes
AUSTRALIAN
RELEASE DATE
October 27, 2016
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