Hell or High Water

In the year 2017, it seems as though the times of classic Western films are behind us. The classic tales of cops and robbers, cowboys and Indians, an archaism. And yet, with Hell or High Water, director David Mackenzie seems to prove that these films can stand the test of time.

Hell or High Water adapts and complexifies the traditional “cops and robbers” storyline, forcing audiences to question these stereotypical factors of good and evil.
The movie focuses on Toby and Tanner Howard (Chris Pine, Ben Foster), who are seen in the movie’s opening robbing a series of Texas Midlands Banks. In these opening scenes, the action-packed, neo-Western setting shines through. In the storyline of cops and robbers, it’s clear which side the Howards are on.

Between robberies, however, we learn that their crimes are out of desperation. After the death of their mother, Toby struggles to keep the family ranch and its oil deposits to ensure his sons’ financial security.

Meanwhile, officers Marcus Hamilton (Jeff Bridges, Oscar-nominated for Best Supporting Actor) and Alberto Parker (Gil Birmingham) begin their efforts to convict the robbers. As we learn more and more about the Howards’ however, the justice that these officers represent seems unjust.

As the film changes perspectives from the Howards to the officers, Mackenzie challenges audiences to question our standards of morality. Toby’s paternal intent evokes sympathy for the brothers, and yet Tanner’s wild behavior seems to reinforce their criminal archetype. With each transition, though, billboards of loan services and shots of oil drills remind audiences who the real enemy seems to be.

Throughout the film, the Howards and officers move closer and closer together, until a climactic robbery and shootout leaves both pairs in disarray. The intense action parallels classic Western films; the storylines challenge tradition. It’s a brilliant juxtaposition.

Compared to Academy favorites such as La La Land or Moonlight, Hell or High Water is an underdog in the race for Best Picture. Nevertheless, it’s an exciting film that shows the Western films of the past are, in fact, timeless.