Destined For Greatness Come "Hell Or High Water"

Hell or High Water  (2016) 

Rated R

Starring Chris Pine, Ben Foster, Jeff Bridges, Gil Birmingham

Directed by David Mackenzie

The Story:

Toby and Tanner (Pine & Foster) hatch a scheme to rob banks to cover the mortgage to save the family farm and give it to Toby's kids. Of course Texas Rangers Hamilton and Parker (Bridges & Birmingham) are determined to figure out who is committing the robberies and stop them before they strike again.

That description doesn't really do justice to just how good this movie really is.

It's a character driven story arc for starters, with each of the 4 leads given ample screen time and opportunity to present their character and win over the audience.

By the mid-point, you're rooting for both the outlaws and the lawmen, and it provides such a gradual build of sympathy and respect for all the characters.

Through some judgement errors, things take a turn for the worse as the movie progresses and it steamrolls to the inevitable conclusion.

But it is most definitely a ride worth taking.

I was amused by Jeff Bridges' character the most, as he seemed very closely resembled to the peace officer from R.I.P.D.

As one of only 17 people on the planet who actually liked that film, his character was the highlight of the movie, and he does it again in this film, balancing a character who is full of himself because he is that good at what does and being actually likable.

Whether or not the film has a happy ending completely depends on you point of view to what happens during the film.

It's the right ending for a great movie.

Final Grade: B+