Hell or High Water

1. LamontRaymond

   Aug 12, 2016

   10

   Hands down the best film of 2016. The three lead actors blew me away. Ben Foster always brings it, but he delivers a level of nuance I wasHands down the best film of 2016. The three lead actors blew me away. Ben Foster always brings it, but he delivers a level of nuance I was even surprised by. Chris Pine finally gets a chance to demonstrate his real acting chops - he's been wasting his time in too many Star Trek flicks. And The Dude? Jeff Bridges? This might be his career-defining performance. Beyond the bravura acting performances, the film just has an easy, authentic feel to it. You can almost smell West Texas. It's a beautifully shot work. Won't spoil the plot - just go see this film. It's the antidote to what's been ailing Hollywood for the last couple of years. If this sucker doesn't deliver at least 2 statues in late February 2017, I'll be disappointed. (But what else is new?)… Expand

   • 4 of 5 users found this helpful
2. AGeekNamedBob

   Aug 14, 2016

   10

   HELL OR HIGH WATER was a perfect film. Jeff Bridges, Ben Foster and Chris Pine - three actors who always turn in great and/or interestingHELL OR HIGH WATER was a perfect film. Jeff Bridges, Ben Foster and Chris Pine - three actors who always turn in great and/or interesting performances (no matter the quality of movie) in a crime western with an incredibly strong script by Taylor Sheridan, who wrote last year's SICARIO. And a string heavy score by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis to set the tone in the bleak, dust-bowl like poor west Texas setting? Really, this film blew me away. I can think of nothing I didn't like.… Expand

   • 0 of 1 users found this helpful
4. PHANTOMRAIDER

   Aug 22, 2016

   10

   Great flick...has everything a movie should have...interesting story, well developed characters, fine acting, especially surprising was PineGreat flick...has everything a movie should have...interesting story, well developed characters, fine acting, especially surprising was Pine as the hero/ antihero. Light on romance, but not relationships. Light on computer effects, but not on classic action scenes. Bridges' southwest accent is getting a bit shopworn, but he delivers otherwise. See it! Then see it again. Then you will probably want the DVD......it is really that interesting!… Expand

   • 0 of 0 users found this helpful
5. TVJerry

   Aug 19, 2016

   8

   When the movie starts, you assume that the brothers (Chris Pine and Ben Foster) are just out for a bank-robbing joy ride thru the forlorn,When the movie starts, you assume that the brothers (Chris Pine and Ben Foster) are just out for a bank-robbing joy ride thru the forlorn, foreclosed Texas midlands. As the plot develops, it becomes clear that there's more to their plan. While they go from bank to bank, the sheriff (Jeff Bridges in a crotchety comic role) pursues them with quiet patience and logic. This is NOT a wildly-violent crime caper or a Tarantinoesque script with snappy repartee. It's a smartly-written, well-directed drama with involving characters and exceptional performances all around. A clean action film with that's intelligently crafted to rise above the genre.… Expand

   • 0 of 0 users found this helpful
6. Spangle

   Aug 25, 2016

   8

   Texas fried to its very core, Hell or High Water is a film with a deep Southern fried aesthetic from its look, feel, and killerTexas fried to its very core, Hell or High Water is a film with a deep Southern fried aesthetic from its look, feel, and killer soundtrack/score. With terrific performances from Chris Pine, Ben Foster, and Jeff Bridges, Hell or High Water is a thoroughly unique family-fueled crime film. It may be a touch heavy-handed at times with its anti-bank mentality, but this is more than overcome by its terrifically crafted characters. The brothers are very multi-dimensional, as though they may be criminals, we feel for them deeply because of their circumstances and hope they can get away with it all. That said, even the cops are well developed. Bridges' character and his relationship with Gil Birmingam's character is terrific. Not only is their banter hysterical, but for friends and fellow cops, they are given a shocking amount of depth. In addition to its terrific writing, Hell or High Water is a sturdy film that defies expectations, as is tradition with David Mackenzie's films. He takes typical premises and more than just spruces them up. Instead, he reinvents it and turns it into a fully nuanced and powerful film that explores family relationships and how far you will go to help your family. Even more, it explores the violent nature of man and how thin the line between life and death is and can be. The film's cinematography is also terrific with some seriously beautiful shots strewn through this film. Not only did it capture the Southern aesthetic as previously mentioned, it really captured the look and feel of the towns it was set in. This is also heavily due to the film's terrific production and set design. Overall, Hell or High Water is a real gem set to go down as one of the very best releases of 2016.… Expand

   • 0 of 0 users found this helpful
7. GreatMartin

   Aug 19, 2016

   7

   "Hell and High Water" is a very 'odd' movie!! For the first 75 minutes you wish it 'would just get on' to where it is going though it does"Hell and High Water" is a very 'odd' movie!! For the first 75 minutes you wish it 'would just get on' to where it is going though it does have 1-2 minutes of hilarity supplied by Margaret Bowman as a sassy waiteress who wouldn't take any guff from Jack Nicholson giving his order in "Five Easy Pieces" let alone from Texas Ranger Jeff Bridges! There is also a lot of give and take between Jeff, who will soon retire, and his Mexican-Comanche partner Gil Birmingham plus the bank robber brothers Chris Pine and Ben Foster.
   
   The screenwriter Taylor Sheridan offers sharp dialogue between the various 'couples', including an exchange between another waitress played by Katy Mixon who is flirtatious with Pine and then haughty with Bridges who wants to take her $200 tip as evidence. Where the screenplay goes astray is when it delves into the why of the bank robberies and leaves the clever based dialogue.
   
   The chemistry between older 'black sheep' brother Foster and the 'baby' Pine works from their first appearance to the end and Pine does clean up handsomely! The chemistry between Bridges and Birmingham is just as important between as it is between the brothers and all 4 pay off.
   
   There is no 'love interest' per se but both Bowman and Mixon women steal the movie from the more 'important' roles of the men. After that hour and 15 minutes of the set up the last 27 minutes grabs you and will surprise the most avid movie goer.
   
   "Hell and High Water" is a low keyed Western thriller cowboy movie but that scene with Bowman is sure to remain in your herad long after the movie does. It is a classic segment that will probably be watched millions of times on Youtube!!… Expand

   • 0 of 0 users found this helpful
8. GinaK

   Aug 26, 2016

   3

   A dull film about mainly uninteresting people. One critic I read mentioned “Bonnie and Clyde” when reviewing this film, and I wonder what heA dull film about mainly uninteresting people. One critic I read mentioned “Bonnie and Clyde” when reviewing this film, and I wonder what he was smoking. Ben Foster and Chris Pike do a good job with the two main characters, but their real motivations were murky until the very end when things finally got interesting. But that was more the scriptwriter’s fault and not theirs. Jeff Bridges played the Jeff Bridges character and I read he was “foul-mouthed.” I found his “joshing” with his partner highly offensive and racist. If you love clichés and despair, this is the movie for you.… Expand

   • 0 of 0 users found this helpful

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