When you think about a heist movie, images of intense over-the-top gunfights, loud bangs, quick cuts, and intense closeups come to mind; however, Hell or High Water delivers a different take. One that focuses more on the characters, and the setting that has defined these people, with a few bank robberies mixed in-between. It is this very different emphasis that makes this movie stand out from others, and be one of, if not the, best movies of the summer.
The story is mainly focused on Toby (Chris Pine) who enlists his brother Tanner (Ben Foster) to aid with robbing banks in order to get Toby’s family out of poverty, and save their land before said banks can take it away. It is a classic tale of anti-heroes, stealing from the rich to save the poor, but before we even get into the mindset of these characters we are dropped into the world that has beaten them down to the point of desperation. This is almost immediate as the film opens with a 360 pan of what appears to be a small deserted town, graffiti tagged on buildings, empty storefronts, and boarded up windows. There is not much left in this part of West Texas, with one exception being the town’s bank that too happily takes money from its surrounding residents. It is here where we witness the brothers commit the first of several robberies.
The cinematography is so noteworthy because we are given so much about the brothers’ background without spoken words. Whether its wide shots mixed with bird’s eye views to show the barren, flat landscape that surrounds them, or patches of overgrown grass covering dilapidated swing sets, the message is clear: this is an unforgiving place where you have to do whatever is necessary to survive.
Not only does use of the setting help mold our characters, but the short yet sharp dialogue exchanges also lend aid. A lot of times screenwriters tend to hold the audiences’ hands, giving cookie cutting dialogue that can be too expositional and unrealistic in moments when it doesn’t feel like characters should be so blatant. Thankfully, Taylor Sheridan (Sicario) wrote the conversations with subtlety, giving just enough information to know more about these people and what events have occurred in their pasts.
Chris Pine gives a solid performance with his symbolic greasy and worn down appearance, but Ben Foster steals most of the attention as the much more frustratingly wild and comedic brother of the two. Together, they embody the best traits of what makes a good anti-hero: they’re in a tough spot, their hearts are in the right place, and they’re trying to get the job done without hurting anyone in the process.
But in the real world, these sort of actions can’t go unpunished, and that’s where police officers Marcus Hamilton (Jeff Bridges) and Alberto Parker (Gil Birmingham) come into play. Both men play their roles brilliantly as they constantly butt heads over what course of action to take, as well as each’s philosophical and ethical beliefs. They are very much opposites like the brothers, one instance being Marcus’ fear of what comes after retirement, whereas Parker’s is not reaching that desired end. Their banter throughout the movie offers both humor, as well as insight on a larger problem than what plagues Toby and Tanner.
Although Hell or High Water does not have the sexiness and flash of the typical action movie, it more than makes up for it with great all-around acting, character depth, and immersive cinematography culminating in a suspenseful final act.
8/10
Lopes
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