From director David Mackenzie and Taylor Sheridan (writer of 2015’s “Sicario”) comes an original, Western crime drama about two brothers called “Hell or High Water.” Toby (Chris Pine) and Tanner Howard (Ben Foster) embark on a bank robbing spree across Texas. Hounded by retiree Texas Ranger, Marcus Hamilton (Jeff Bridges) and his partner, Alberto Parker (Gil Birmingham), fate pushes the four men toward a showdown of morals and justice.

Cinematography 4/5
Mackenzie, along with recurring photography partner Giles Nuttgens, do an excellent job creating a real sense of atmosphere as the camera goes from the wild plains to the dusty and rusty townscapes. Even though the movie takes place in the present, there is a satisfying and timeless feel to the setting, as if this story of brotherhood was an old tale brought to life by a veteran storyteller.

Mackenzie certainly knows what to look for, pacing out longer shots and being quick with others to dish out the desired dramatic and visual effect. It shares a similar tone to the Coen Bros, “No Country For Old Men” but it doesn’t compare.

Writing 5/5
If you want to see this movie, but haven’t seen any trailers yet, don’t watch any. Sheridan does a masterful job with the pacing of the plot, revealing things about the Howard brothers, their personalities and their overall motivations for bank robbing at just the right time. The movie keeps you thinking and analyzing the two of them. The beginning of the movie gives a nice introduction to the brothers, letting their actions speak for themselves as to who is the older and the younger, the reckless and the wiser.

“Hell or Highwater” is an amazingly deep character study, if nothing else. The Texas rangers, Marcus and Alberto, make quite a pair, riffing off each other every chance they get with quips about the other’s race or age. The four men are very lifelike, each bringing their own definition of masculinity to the table along with their personal fears and stakes on the line that are so believable that it’s hard to know who to root for.

Acting 5/5
Chris Pine and Ben Foster have an incredible chemistry as Toby and Tanner Howard respectively. Each brother brings their own side to the relationship, and plays it with such conviction and sincerity that the scenes with only those two are some of the best in the whole film.

Just as Pine and Foster have an excellent blood brother act, Jeff Bridges as Ranger Marcus and Gil Birmingham as Ranger Alberto are just as watchable; their banter and conversation make them seem like brothers, just as much as the Howards. Bridges is in top form as the old ranger, who’s prickly, wisecracking exterior hides his fears of looming retirement. Gil stays toe to toe with Bridges, being the more restrained of the two.

Overall
“Hell or High Water” doesn’t break any ground in the crime drama genre, but the writing, acting and filming are done with such a high level of quality that it’s a shame more movies can’t be this sincere or satisfying.

It could have been a bloody and dark shoot ‘em up with monotonous characters and poor cliché-ridden writing. But rather, Mackenzie and Sheridan knew what they were doing when they set out to make this solid tale of four men and the ensuing moral battle of justice that breaks out between them.