Soundtrack/Score
So... much... country... gonna... die....
Favorite Line
There were so many! I'd have to go with the simplest one, though, spoken by Tanner right before an epic beat-down: "Boy, you'd think there were ten of me."
Cops vs. Robbers
The brothers are committing a crime, so they should be caught, but you like them. You want to hate the cops for going after the brothers, but you like them too!
Should it be Nominated for an Oscar?
YESOHMYGODYES!
I never would have watched this movie had my Papa not noted it on a list of potential Oscar nominees. Even at that, it was third on our list for movie night, trailing way behind Magnificent 7 and Manchester by the Sea by the mere fact that I'd at least heard of those movies. This is the movie that's going to fall through the cracks, and boy, does it deserve a much better fate than that.
David Mackenzie's Hell or High Water is the perfect mix of your cliche Robin Hood story, modern day social issues, action-packed violence, and witty banter. The tale of two brothers robbing small-town banks in an attempt to save the family farm from those very banks is not unheard of, but Ben Foster and Chris Pine actually make you care about the struggles the Howard brothers are going through. And Jeff Bridges and Gil Bermingham make you care about the Texas Rangers, so when the final shootout comes you don't know who to root for!
The writers gave us a great story line that while at times was predictable still gave you a few good shocks that called for a rewind, and on top of that they managed to squeeze in plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. So if you can't get behind the bank robberies, you can still enjoy Bridges and Bermingham insulting each other in ways that only partners on the force can. Don't let the country scare you away from this film. While the songs all sound the same, every scene offers you something new.
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What did you think of this movie? Comment below!
Damn! Hell or High Water got a 98 on Rotten Tomatoes! I didn't even bother reading any of the actual reviews because I think their "Critics Consensus" sums it up perfectly:
ReplyDeleteHell or High Water offers a solidly crafted, well-acted Western heist thriller that eschews mindless gunplay in favor of confident pacing and full-bodied characters.
https://www.cine-vue.com/2016/09/film-review-hell-or-high-water.html
ReplyDeleteHere's the negative review I found. Not sure what crawled up this guy's butt, but most of the stuff he was complaining about I enjoyed (especially the subtle hints to the issues of poverty sprinkled throughout the movie). I will agree with him that it is hard to tell if Bridge's character is actually racist. He says some really hurtful things to his Mexican/Native American partner, but it's hard to tell if that's just part of their banter or if he's actually being a dick. Birmingham's character gives it just as well as he gets it.