Hell Or High Water (2016)

USA
directed by: David Mackenzie
written by: Taylor Sheridan
starring: Jeff Bridges, Ben Foster, Chris Pine, Gil Birmingham
seen: 6th September, 2017

Nick Cave and Warren Ellis are at it again and I love them. That's my foreword to this review.

"Hell Or High Water" is one of those films where every other and maybe simply just every shot looks like all the people in it are in fact posing for a poster, but since it's a clever meditative modern western about brother and brother, individuals and ancestors, inhabitants and land, I'm not only forgiving such behavior, I'm practically encouraging it and consider it a positive thing.

It's also been some time since I enjoyed some film's use of dialogue this much. It's not used to explain the plot like in most films these days, the subject matter is not the exact point, but it's still important that it was said. It gives vital information on the four lead men's characters, builds up the viewers sympathies for both duos and also creates subconscious fear of their inevitable confrontation. The film gives every emotion enough time to fully show its effect. It builds suspense slowly and gradually, without being unbearably long or dull. And it's still available to subvert expectations and surprise with its development.

I was already in love with Ben Foster, Gil Birmingham and Jeff Bridges (in that order) and to my astonishment I'm probably going to include Chris Pine in that list from now on. And I'm also in love with the fact that this film's visual key is both absolutely civil and ultimately genre-like.