"Hell or High Water" is one of if not the best film I have seen in 2016. Following a rather lackluster summer this year, these last few weeks have been giving us hit after hit it seems. "Kubo", "Don't Breathe", and now we come to here. Let the good streak roll into the new year I guess. The film stars two brothers who hatch an elaborate scheme to rob the bank branches that led to their mother living in property and in permanent debt just to pay off their farmland payments with the very same money. All the while an old Texas Ranger on the verge of retirement and his partner are seeking them out as their last case.
It might actually shock people (myself included) to find that the film is very funny and not just in that dark way you might expect. Jeff Bridges and his partner work off each other and give some of the funniest scenes in film I've seen in a long while and even the two brothers played by Chris Pine and Ben Foster work together very well and I hope to see them in other films. Speaking of Pine, I think this is his best work, with him being able to show off what he can do in a much wider scale than in the "Star Trek" films (sorry fans). Ben Foster is always a enjoyable actor to see, and he really gets into his parts always for the benefit of the films.
My viewing partner next to me made a good point that she felt she was watching a Coen Brothers film at first, and that really is a compliment when I had more time to think about it. It has many elements of the famous brotherly duo, but also keeps itself in a unique space, balancing drama and humor with perfection. The film's soundtrack really helps with the mood as well, with each soundtrack selection fitting each scene and I have to confess despite my displeasure with country music, the songs here are all excellent.
The visuals of this film are quite strong as well, especially when having to make desert and dreary plains work visually. The film frequently shows us each and every little detail of the various towns these characters visit, showing off the sadness and the devastation that the bank and economy has done to these towns and everything around you gives you more and more details to the story without dialogue, and that is one of the hardest things you can do in a film and do it successfully. Director David Mackenzie is truly a genius and a natural talent and this may be his best film to date. There's truly not enough filmmakers like this and he has my utmost respect.
The hype is all true folks, I cannot recommend this film highly enough. Please check out "Hell or High Water".
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