Hell or High Water – 2016
This was a movie of which I knew absolutely nothing before watching. I didn’t know who was in it or what it was about. But in a way, I think this might have been for the best. Everything was a surprise. Everything was fresh. And considering that the plot had a few unexpected turns, it was nice to not see them coming. The film sported three big names, Jeff Bridges, Chris Pine, and Ben Foster.
Pine and Foster played two brothers, Toby and Tanner Howard, who are the film’s anti-heroes. They are bank robbers who successfully rob several banks at gunpoint before their criminal activities are brought to a well-conceived and captivating end. Bridges plays the grizzled old lawman, Marcus Hamilton, along with his long-time partner, Alberto, played by Gil Birmingham, the two of whom run them to ground. What really made the movie for me was the great character writing, especially when it came to the two brothers.
Taylor Sheridan, who wrote the screenplay, and David Mackenzie, who directed the film, really had a good sense of the characters and their motivations. Toby was the brains of the pair who had a very specific goal in mind for the conclusion of the crime spree. Tanner was just a simple criminal who got off on breaking the law and loved his little brother enough to do anything for him. Even the characters of Marcus and Alberto were well-written, their close friendship being the perfect way to flesh out their personalities.
All of the actors did a really good job, but the one that stood out to me was Ben Foster. Despite the fact that his character was crazy, dangerous, had a complete lack of morals, and enjoyed murder just as much as he enjoyed robbing banks, he had a strange kind of charm that was attractive, in a Texas redneck kind of way. And I really loved the obvious affection he had for his brother. Foster really understood his part and played it perfectly. I know he was the bad guy, but he ended up being my favorite character.
Pine did a great job as the criminal mastermind that ultimately got away with the robberies without ever killing anyone. I liked that Toby, despite his determination to steal enough money to pay the reverse mortgage on the family ranch, is a reluctant criminal. It is revealed that oil had been discovered on the land and he wanted to leave it all to his sons and his ex-wife, Debbie, played by Marin Ireland. And he is incredibly smart. He knows how to pull off the heists while leaving no evidence that could lead the police to them. The cleverness with which Toby is able to cover their criminal tracks was actually pretty cool. It is only Tanner’s wild and unpredictable nature that fouls things up.
However, it was Bridges that got most of the acting acclaim for the film. In fact, he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his efforts. I’m not sure if I agree with the nomination. I’ve seen Bridges play the same part in several other movies, the most notable of which is the 2010 Best Picture nominee, True Grit. I’ve seen him play the same character often enough that I almost question if we are simply seeing him play himself over and over again.
The story was good, but it was the engaging climax that elevated it to great. The last bank they intend to rob turned out to be Toby’s one oversight. He forgot that they were hitting the bank on a Friday which is most people’s payday. The bank was unexpectedly full of patrons along with an armed security guard. They tried to be in control of the situation, but inevitably, things went bad, civilians were killed, and Toby is shot, though not fatally. They are chased down, and in a touching moment of self-sacrifice, Tanner allows Toby to get away with all the money he needs to save the oil-laden ranch, while he starts a murderous shootout with Marcus and Alberto. Alberto is killed and a grief stricken Marcus takes Tanner out with a perfectly placed sniper shot to the head.
Another thing I liked about the film was the cinematography. Whether you like the vast landscapes of the dusty Texas prairies or not, they were shown magnificently in this movie. There was one little scene in particular that stood out to me in which the two brothers, on the evening before the narrative’s climax, were just playing in the fading light of the day, chasing each other in circles like children. It was like a tender moment between the brothers, both of them knowing that it might be the last such moment they would ever share together. It was a touching scene that was beautifully shot.
The movie was a pleasant surprise on a number of levels. The story was smart and engaging, the visuals were well-constructed, and the acting was above par. And the critics apparently agree as the film was nominated for four Oscars. If you ask me, the one that was the most deserved was the one for Best Original Screenplay. It was the well-conceived and engaging characters in the great script that was the movie’s best feature. By the end of the film, you feel like you really got to know them, and that’s just darn good writing. Congratulations to everyone involved!