Hell or High Water (2016) Thread

[TheLaughingMann]

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Hell-...lu-ray/156447/

On a completely unexpected opportunity I had to watch this movie, I was blown away by the simple brilliance that this movie exhibited.

Chris Pine and Ben Foster play brothers who engage in a series of localized bank robberies within a fixed area of Texas. Jeff Bridges plays a retiring Texas Ranger who eventually gets drawn into the investigation behind the series of events that the brothers lead into. What unfolds over the course of the movie is the motivations behind the brothers for what they do, which is believable and reasonable, and the worries and regrets that the Ranger runs into worrying about whether this will truly be his last hurrah before retirement. It eventually culminates into a nice little conclusion.

The camerawork for the movie is pretty darned good. Details are nice and we get good shots at times of the actors. It doesn't utilize clever placement or any hidden surprises. It's straightforward

While I felt that many of Jeff's roles seem very similar lately (not all from the past few years) where he mixes in a gruff and low voice to match the heavy beards and 'staches he applies, the real winners in this are Chris Pine and Ben Foster. Chris (of the Star Trek film trilogy as Captain Jim Kirk) and Ben (best known for his multitude of supporting roles in films as 3:10 to Yuma, X-Men: The Last Stand, and others) do demonstrate the differences between themselves in personalities that play to the actors' strengths and talents.

The dialogue is good. It isn't masterful or due to earn any accolades for brilliance, but you do see a measure of intellect shown in how it is conveyed. It plays into some of the camerawork and shows some moments that subtly unfold in natural fashion.

While I will make the case that the movie is not going to be recognized as a Top 100 Film of All Time, it definitely earns a spot as one of the best films in 2016 I've ever seen. It's a step or two down from the dramatic brilliance of a Coen Brothers movie (especially No Country for Old Men or Blood Simple), but it does not shirk its ability to do well on its own merits. And that's the best I can say of it is that it does well on its own merits.

Pop in here, give your thoughts, opinions and ratings. Mine is easily a 4/5, no more than a 4.25/5. It's worth a watch at least once and you'll either like it or you'll not like it.

Update: A thread for this DOES exist. It just got buried way back beyond what the search feature turned up for me. This thread can be deleted and removed since it is not necessary.