Well, given my luck with well-reviewed movies that I turn out to absolutely hate, "Hell or High Water" has the audacity to buck that trend. Good reviews...good film. Go figure.
Admittedly, this is a very small production and, although there is Oscar buzz, I am not sure there's enough money behind it to promote the film's worthiness. But, it should be seen and you would not regret it.
Of course, "Hell or High Water" might not be for everyone. There are precious few female characters and, indeed, there are really only three major ones total. Two dippy bank robbers who make a career out of robbing small bills from even smaller banks. And the Texas Ranger who is chasing them in his last really big case before retirement.
That's it.
What is special about "Hell or High Water" is how just damn funny the movie is. Great dialogue and comic situations as the robbers stumble their way from one heist to another. Plus you can never go wrong with Jeff Bridges as the Texas Ranger who loves to insult his Indian assistant. If you're really upset about the Washington NFL team being called the Redskins, this will not be the movie for you. This movie is the primer course for "How to Make Fun of Indian Tribes" 101. I'm happy to say that the audience I was with laughed heartily.
Realistically, "Hell or High Water" offers no new story. Just a great old fashioned one. This movie could have just as easily been shot in the 40s, 50s, 60s, or 70s. While not a cowboy western, it could have qualified from anything you might have seen starring John Wayne or Randolph Scott. What separates it from others like it is the expert writing by Taylor Sheridan, spot-on directing by David McKenzie, and Oscar-nomination-worthy performances from Bridges, Chris Pine, and Ben Foster.
For once this year, you can trust the reviews you read in the papers. Of course, you can always trust the reviews you read here.
LEN'S RATING: Three-and-a-half stars.
Dinner last night: Sandwich and macaroni salad.
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