Hell or High Water
Chris Pine (Star Trek), Ben Foster (The Program) and Oscar-winner Jeff Bridges lead this contemporary Texan bank-robbing thriller. From the director of Starred Up and the writer of Sicario.
A story about the collision of the Old and New West, two brothers — Toby (Pine), a straight-living, divorced father trying to make a better life for his son; and Tanner (Foster), a short-tempered ex-con with a loose trigger finger — come together to rob branch after branch of the bank that is foreclosing on their family land. The hold-ups are part of a last-ditch scheme to take back a future that powerful forces beyond their control have stolen from under their feet.
Vengeance seems to be theirs until they find themselves in the crosshairs of a relentless Texas Ranger (Bridges) looking for one last triumph on the eve of his retirement. A showdown looms at the crossroads where the last honest law man and a pair of brothers with nothing to live for, except family, collide.
- Director:
- David Mackenzie ('Starred Up', 'Perfect Sense', 'Hallam Foe', 'Young Adam')
- Writer:
- Taylor Sheridan
- Cast:
- Jeff BridgesChris PineBen FosterDale DickeyGil BirminghamKaty MixonKevin Rankin
Reviews & comments
Variety
pressA thrillingly good movie - a crackerjack drama of crime, fear, and brotherly love set in a sun-roasted, deceptively sleepy West Texas.
The Telegraph
pressIt has a straight-down-the-highway momentum, interesting stakes, and more textured character work than you can shake a stick at.
The Guardian
pressIt's an action-thriller with punch; Bridges gives the characterisation ballast and heft and Pine and Foster bring a new, grizzled maturity to their performances.
Stuff
pressA heady cross-between No Country for Old Men, Seven Psychopaths and 99 Homes...
New Zealand Herald
pressManages to be guns-ablaze exciting, a tenterhooks thriller, a fine judge of character, and a commentary on the economic times.
Newshub
pressThis is a modern-day Western, a heist story of filial love, but unexpectedly pulsing with a deep social conscience. How brilliant.
Hollywood Reporter
pressAs much as all four men are familiar types, the director, writer and actors imbue them with humanity, steering their arcs through tense action.
Empire Magazine
pressTaut, tense and burnished by Jeff Bridges at his best. This is a deceptively simple tale of Texan cops and robbers that drags the Old West into the modern age.
Don’t be fooled by the cowboy hats as Hell or High Water (2016) is much more than just another western bank-robber adventure. It belongs with films like Money Monster (2016) and 99 Homes (2015) that are loaded with post-GFC themes, all scorching the underbelly of American capitalism. As a hybrid genre, it cuts across several cinematic boundaries to produce...
Clever plot that doesnt go as expected with great pace and direction. Found it quite gripping. Chris Pine as always is great in this movie about bank robbers and the blurring of right and wrong.
Having lived over there in the Lone Star State I can tell you this is no fantasy. It really is the wild west, and this is what makes this film so great. The characters, right down to the diner waitress, are spot on. So the locations and characters really are the stars of this show and the little story about a man righting a wrong just moves everything along...
From the director of Starred Up and the writer of Sicario. (You had me there!!) Hell or High Water centres on a series of bank robberies by two brothers. . The reason behind the robberies gets deeper and deeper as the film progresses, and that's what really works. It's a film that feels a lot like a western, with the cowboy get ups, small towns and let's...
The concept was simple, there's no excessive exposition and wow, did it take you for a ride. There's a great mix of action and conversation. It's not a popcorn thriller, but I was glued to the screen anyway. It's a fantastic movie, go see it!
Great cast and excellent script, interesting moral around how the banks have ripped of so many amaericans in the last decade , Highly recommend
Everything is so good in this, Cave and Ellis's score, the performances from everyone, the dialogue and the cinematography all deserve a mention.
I was pleasantly surprised with this movie, set in small town Texas two brothers go on a spree of bank robberies, chased by the Ranger (Bridges) and his Deputy. The story line is simple but was drawn into the quirky characters and humour and grappled with which side I supported - the law or the robbers (they have a emotional cause you just want to back). ...
This movie was very thought provoking, emotive, understated and a really good watch. Thoroughly enjoyed it!
A good story line supported by a solid cast. While elements of the story are well used, semi retired cop with a younger partner chasing down bad guys, this version blends that with family loyalty and Southern pride. Mixed in with the action are several very humourous scenes and a number of one liners from the older Texas Ranger played by Jeff Bridges....
Variety
pressA thrillingly good movie - a crackerjack drama of crime, fear, and brotherly love set in a sun-roasted, deceptively sleepy West Texas.
The Telegraph
pressIt has a straight-down-the-highway momentum, interesting stakes, and more textured character work than you can shake a stick at.
The Guardian
pressIt's an action-thriller with punch; Bridges gives the characterisation ballast and heft and Pine and Foster bring a new, grizzled maturity to their performances.
Stuff
pressA heady cross-between No Country for Old Men, Seven Psychopaths and 99 Homes...
New Zealand Herald
pressManages to be guns-ablaze exciting, a tenterhooks thriller, a fine judge of character, and a commentary on the economic times.
Newshub
pressThis is a modern-day Western, a heist story of filial love, but unexpectedly pulsing with a deep social conscience. How brilliant.
Hollywood Reporter
pressAs much as all four men are familiar types, the director, writer and actors imbue them with humanity, steering their arcs through tense action.
Empire Magazine
pressTaut, tense and burnished by Jeff Bridges at his best. This is a deceptively simple tale of Texan cops and robbers that drags the Old West into the modern age.
Don’t be fooled by the cowboy hats as Hell or High Water (2016) is much more than just another western bank-robber adventure. It belongs with films like Money Monster (2016) and 99 Homes (2015) that are loaded with post-GFC themes, all scorching the underbelly of American capitalism. As a hybrid genre, it cuts across several cinematic boundaries to...
Clever plot that doesnt go as expected with great pace and direction. Found it quite gripping. Chris Pine as always is great in this movie about bank robbers and the blurring of right and wrong.
Having lived over there in the Lone Star State I can tell you this is no fantasy. It really is the wild west, and this is what makes this film so great. The characters, right down to the diner waitress, are spot on. So the locations and characters really are the stars of this show and the little story about a man righting a wrong just moves everything...
From the director of Starred Up and the writer of Sicario. (You had me there!!) Hell or High Water centres on a series of bank robberies by two brothers. . The reason behind the robberies gets deeper and deeper as the film progresses, and that's what really works. It's a film that feels a lot like a western, with the cowboy get ups, small towns and let's...
The concept was simple, there's no excessive exposition and wow, did it take you for a ride. There's a great mix of action and conversation. It's not a popcorn thriller, but I was glued to the screen anyway. It's a fantastic movie, go see it!
Great cast and excellent script, interesting moral around how the banks have ripped of so many amaericans in the last decade , Highly recommend
Everything is so good in this, Cave and Ellis's score, the performances from everyone, the dialogue and the cinematography all deserve a mention.
I was pleasantly surprised with this movie, set in small town Texas two brothers go on a spree of bank robberies, chased by the Ranger (Bridges) and his Deputy. The story line is simple but was drawn into the quirky characters and humour and grappled with which side I supported - the law or the robbers (they have a emotional cause you just want to back)....
This movie was very thought provoking, emotive, understated and a really good watch. Thoroughly enjoyed it!
A good story line supported by a solid cast. While elements of the story are well used, semi retired cop with a younger partner chasing down bad guys, this version blends that with family loyalty and Southern pride. Mixed in with the action are several very humourous scenes and a number of one liners from the older Texas Ranger played by Jeff Bridges....
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