I was very lucky to attend the Texas premiere of David Mackenzie's HELL OR HIGH WATER at the Alamo Drafthouse here in Austin, TX a couple of weeks back. The event was star studded with actors Chris Pine, Jeff Bridges, and Ben Foster in attendance as well as some supporting cast and the writer and director. So much hoopla can sometimes skew an audience's reaction in favor of even the biggest train wreck of a film, but I am so happy to report that HELL OR HIGH WATER definitely lived up to the hype.
The story revolves around the Howard brothers (Pine and Foster), a hard scrabble pair who are both trying to put their tumultuous pasts behind them and move forward in the wake of the passing of their beloved mother. The Howards learn that their family homestead will soon be owned by the local bank due to a predatory reverse mortgage their ailing matriarch agreed to in order to stay afloat in her golden years. Rather than letting the suits have off with their inheritance, Tanner and Toby decide to even the score on their own terms by robbing the very chain of banks who seemingly ripped off their family. Hot on their tail is curmudgeon lawman Marcus Hamilton (Bridges) with old school tactics and anecdotal ways that keep the brothers on their toes while on the lam.
During the Q and A following the screening I attended, writer Taylor Sheridan (Sicario) declared his latest effort his "love letter to Texas," and this dedication is apparent in every dusty frame. From shuttered main streets of once-booming oil towns to hot pursuits blocked by cattle drives, HELL OR HIGH WATER perfectly captures the gritty, sun bleached plains of northwest Texas. I grew up just over the Red River from where a majority of the story plays out, and I'd be lying if I said the film didn't make me a tad homesick. Though an Englishman himself, director David Mackenzie fully understands the vibe of the region's small town life and conveys this feeling with apparent ease. Aside from the New Mexican vistas that betray the fact that the movie was, in fact, not filmed in northwest Texas, Mackenzie manages to pack in so much of my hometown ambience that I still found myself looking for familiar landmarks.
Aside from the impeccably accurate feel of HELL OR HIGH WATER, the story and performances are completely on point. Sheridan weaves a lovely and lively tale of brothers at a crossroads while still maintaining the momentum of a good ole heist flick. Chris Pine as Toby, the more responsible of the brothers, hits all the right notes as the unlikely criminal with a heart of gold. Though his character is conflicted and always aims to do the right thing, Pine also conveys the motivation necessary to believe that a person could go to such an extreme for personal justice.
Jeff Bridges as the epitome of a scruffy Texas lawman pretty much does the usual gravel-mouthed grumpy old man schtick we're familiar with by now. While it could be said that his performance is a mere caricature, the truth is that there are very few actors that can pull it off with the finesse of this Hollywood legend, and I thoroughly enjoyed his apt portrayal of the type of gruff old timers I grew up around in that neck of the woods.
If we're talking stellar performances though, I would be remiss not to admit that Ben Foster as the elder Howard brother Tanner completely steals the show. His loose cannon demeanor and fuck it attitude gives the film the perfect jolt it needs in more ways than one. Foster's portrayal of the ex con not only provides much needed comic relief, but also just the right amount of crazy to keep the whole story buzzing. In some scenes his light hearted demeanor contrasts well with Pine's seriousness, and in others his more menacing episodes help balance Pine's righteousness. I loved Foster in this role.
HELL OR HIGH WATER is a total win for me. Yes, the film flooded me with nostalgia for the dusty oil towns of my youth, but it also completely captured my imagination with its flawless storytelling, beautiful direction and stunning performances. So, believe the hype and check out this kickass heist movie that is also a gorgeous ode to northwest Texas.
Rebecca Elliott
Aka Annette Kellerman
