Hell or High Water - Liked It

Stars:  Chris Pine, Ben Foster, Jeff Bridges
Run Time: 1 hour, 42 minutes

​Hell or High Water follows two men, who are extremely poor and looking for a way to make money. They have this brilliant idea to rob banks in order to get the money they need to keep the ranch. One brother, Tanner (Ben Foster) is recently out of prison and mostly is only doing this to help out his younger brother, Toby (Chris Pine), who is a divorced father and wants to keep the ranch for his sons.
 
The movie starts off quickly, as the two are robbing a bank in the area, and then another bank, and then another so closely to each other. At this point, it’s time to venture to a different part of the state, as the police on the case are gaining speed. Marcus (Jeff Bridges) is the lead investigator and is making connections quickly as to what banks they are hitting and which ones will be next. After the first few robberies the movie takes somewhat of a slow paced turn as they travel throughout Western Texas. Heading to where Toby’s ex-wife and kids live and devising the best plan to execute any other heists. The last heist is a doosie. Before the movie is over we watch gun fights, car chases, police chases, character development, and ultimately death to some of the main characters.

• I liked the waitress in the diner (Katy Mixon from Mike & Molly). She told the detectives her thoughts and didn’t take no for an answer… along with perhaps helping the two bank robbers out some.
• I liked the story itself and the reasoning behind why they were doing it, though I’m sure there is another way, it was a good story to watch unfold on screen.
• I liked the ending and the conversation that Toby and Marcus had along with what Tanner did for his brother.
• I hated the slow paced parts in the middle of the film, but liked the beginning and ending.

​Overall I thought this film was good. Typically westerns aren’t my thing, but this one wasn’t bad. It had just enough excitement in the beginning and end to keep me from being bored the entire time, and the gun fights and explosions helped out a bunch too. I’m a little confused as to how this became an Oscar Nominee because this isn’t the typical movie I would expect to be nominated for Best Picture. Yes, I thought it was good, it just surprises me. I’m going to give this movie a “Liked It.”
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