Hell or High Water (2016) Review

 

Hell or High Water (2016)

Hell or High Water follows two brothers as they rob the very banks about to foreclose on their land, followed not far behind by a Texas ranger who isn’t keen on hanging it up just yet.

Western crime films, no matter how many times they’ve been done, always have a way of hitting the mark, and the same rings true here. But this film deviates in that the motivations of the brothers aren’t about getting rich, but are about breaking the line of poverty in their family, specifically with Toby’s kids. We get hard driven themes of poverty, racial disparity/discrimination, and an intriguing look into the motivations of those less fortunate.

The banks, who are the real bad guys in this, tricked their mom into signing a mortgage on her death bed, putting them in massive debt. But their plan is well thought out, burying getaway vehicles, taking small enough bills as to not attract national attention, and exchanging stolen money at casinos.

The cast is also superb, nailing down the two sides of this story with Chris Pine and Ben Foster as the brothers and Jeff Bridges and Gil Birmingham as the rangers. Bridges and Birmingham’s relationship is one built in racial jest and ribbing that is more lighthearted and comedic. Pine on the other hand is quiet and determined, while Foster is the wild card of the bunch, always seeming primed to explode. His and Birmingham’s deaths thus deeply effecting both sides, leaving them hollow and without much reward after all is said and done.

Hell or High Water presents a dichotomy between the lower class and those in power, showing how in being taken advantage of, they will not help those in search of truth or justice. It portrays West Texas realistically and accurately, with it’s small town America lifestyle and mindset, used to show the difference between the law and the criminals, who are using the banks money to pay off the bank. It’s genius and extremely well thought out, and put to screen beautifully.

8.9/10