HELL OR HIGH WATER

US, 2016, 102 minutes, Colour.
Jeff Bridges, Chris Pine, Ben Foster, Gil Birmingham.
Directed by David Mackenzie.


This is a contemporary western relying on audience memories of the traditions of Texas bank robbers, memories of the outlaws and their mixed motives in the 19th century, the tradition of Bonnie and Clyde and the enthusiasm for crime and robbing banks, the more organised gangsters of the later 20th century. So, here are bank robbers in the 21st century – one with the touch of ruthlessness and recklessness, the other having a serious motive for the robberies.

The setting is West Texas and, if the film is to be believed, it is a very drab place, businesses running down, lots of signs for loans and properties for sale. Except for the mountains, the scenery is not all that attractive either (although, to be fair, it was filmed in New Mexico).

We are plunged instantly into a bank robbery, two masked men waylaying a bank assistant before 8.30 in the morning, working on the principle that robberies do not usually take place that early and so should be easier to achieve. And they are right. The thing is that they take only cash and not enormous amounts of it either. They immediately then do another robbery.

The robbers are two brothers, the older brother, Tanner (Ben Foster in yet another angry and villainous role) and Toby, more upright but a lot in his life not to be proud of (Chris Pine taking time off from being Star Trek’s Captain Kirk). Tanner has been a long time in jail and alienated from his family, especially their mother who has just died. Toby is divorced, has two young sons and is concerned about their future, especially since he has inherited property on which oil has been discovered and which will bring in substantial revenue. He has a time limit (hell or high water) to pay mortgage and loans and ensure the security of his sons.

Toby is quite smart and the method for laundering the cash is to drive to Oklahoma, go to the casinos, exchange chips, and then get cash back.

The main credit for the film, however, is given to Jeff Bridges who plays a Texas Ranger, pretty laid back in his way, who is about to retire. His assistant, Alberto (Gil Birmingham) has both Native American and Mexican ancestry – and he is continually the part of the Arranger’s racial teasing. The Ranger is shrewd, interviews witnesses, a number of whom could identify Toby, and waits out the next robbery.

As might be expected, things go wrong and there is a pursuit, car chases, sniping in the mountains.

There is an interesting discussion at the end between the Ranger and Toby, raising the issues of the intelligence behind the robberies as well as the motivation.

The screenplay is by Tyler Sheridan, an actor, who was praised for his first screenplay, Sicario. His work here is both clever and sardonically humorous, some good wisecracks, especially on the part of Jeff Bridges – when asked by Alberto why he is sitting on a porch, he replies that he is practising his future! But Jeff Bridges, who has been making films were almost 50 years, has now achieved some cult status and can take on old codger roles in the vein of Paul Newman and Clint Eastwood – and, by the look of him and his performance, Chris Pine could be doing the same thing in about 30 years.

The musical score is by Nick Cave who collaborates with his writer, Warren Ellis in some songs.

1. A contemporary western? The parallels with the old West? 21st century?

2. West Texas, a drab area, loans, for sales signs, foreclosures? The ugly aspects of the towns, the banks, the diners? Oklahoma casinos?

3. The roads, aerial shops, the mountains? The musical score? Contributions by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis?

4. 19th-century bank robberies, the outlaws? The tradition of Bonnie and Clyde? The later 20th-century gangsters? Bank robbers in the 21st century? The changes in motivations?

5. Tanner and Toby, robbing banks early in the morning, arriving with the assistant, waylaying the manager? The method, taking small amounts of cash, the escapes, the cars, varying the escape cars? The second robbery, leaving the gun on the desk, the old-timer with his coins, shooting?

6. The revelation of the characters, the background and their stories, Tanner and his jail record, attack on his father? Alienation from his mother? Toby, younger, the photos of them in their past, his marrying, his sons, the divorce, relationship with his ex-wife? His mother’s death?

7. The third robbery, the young girl, her being interrogated by Hamilton?

8. Toby’s situation, the loans from the banks, interest, the amount needed, the small robberies, taking cash, laundering the money at the casino, getting cash in exchange for chips, the paying back to the bank, the deadline, Toby and his insistence on finalising everything and the documents? His wife, his discussion with his son, suggesting he not take him as a role model, the boy refusing beer? Trust? The discovery of oil in the land, the digging, the income? Security for his family?

9. The two brothers, their conversations, Tanner and his recklessness, shooting, punching? At the casino, play, the confrontation with the Indian, the talkback, Comanche, sex and the room? Toby, his plan and the execution?

10. The meal at the diner, food, conversation, the waitress and her flirting, the big tip, interrogated by the police, having to give back her tip as evidence? The staff and their responses? The men sitting around, chatting, giving information to Hamilton?

11. Hamilton, his age, his work, about to retire, his relationship with Alberto, their working together, the racial teasing? The interrogations? Hamilton being shrewd, staying in the area, in the motel overnight, his reaction to the religious television? Sitting on the porch – practising his future? His nonchalant attitudes?

12. The last robbery, people with their cameras, mobile phones, the guard, his being shot, deaths, Toby being wounded?

13. The escape, buying the secondhand cars, changing them, burying them, the split into different vehicles, Toby, tending his wound, his getting through the roadblock? Going to the bar? Paying the money?

14. Tanner, the chase, all the cars, the shooting, the exploding vehicle? Going to the hills, sniping? Hamilton in the chase, shooting? Alberto being shot, the impact on Hamilton? Talking with the driver, going the back road, pursuit of Tanner and shooting him?

15. Hamilton retired, getting the documents, thinking through the crimes? The visit to Toby, Toby’s reticence, the talk, the truth – and, perhaps, their meeting again?