Review of Hell or High Water (2016) by Mrmoviebuff — 16 Sep 2016

'Hell or High Water' is, without a doubt, the best movie of 2016, so far. This is an expert character study filmed with gorgeous cinematography and a well-paced use of suspense that make for a compelling crime drama.

The movie stars Chris Pine and Ben Foster as brothers; Toby and Tanner Howard, who go around stealing from Texas banks and managing to get away with it all. That is, until a Texas ranger Marcus Hamilton (Jeff Bridges) and his partner Alberto Parker (Gil Birmingham) are onto them and try their best to track both these brothers down before they hit another branch.

This film contains some great acting from the main cast, Bridges is fantastic as the ambitious Texas ranger, so caught up in the moment of trying to catch the two menacing brothers, that he essentially has an ego for wanting to catch them. Foster is so dastardly unlikable as the always acting-before-thinking Tanner, and Pine is marvelous as Toby, who is obviously inexperienced as opposed to his ex-con older brother.

Director David Mackenzie should be sure of getting a "Best Director" nomination of crafting this intense and sometimes shocking drama, the cinematography by Giles Nuttgens should also be considered for an Oscar nomination. Bridges may also get a "Best Supporting Actor" nomination for his work in this movie. Everything about this reminds me of the Coen Brothers' classic 'No Country for Old Men' (2007), another movie of a similar genre that was fantastic in its character study and suspense.

Hands down, the best movie of 2016, so far...