Hell Or High Water : A Western tale of Desperation and Conscience

Toby Howard (Chris Pine) is divorced and older brother Tanner Howard (Ben Foster) is a recently released bank robber. Their mother recently died after a long illness. Together, they go on a spree robbing branches of Texas Midlands Bank. Texas Ranger Marcus Hamilton (Jeff Bridges) is investigating. He thinks that they're on a mission to gather a set amount from the small quick robberies.

This movie takes all the old western concepts and brings them out to the modern time. They even have cowboys driving cattle on the run from a fire. Each one of these people realizes that times have passed them by and the world is changing. The acting is more than solid. Pine and Foster have great sibling chemistry. Jeff Bridges is comfortably acting within his range. The best character is the old cranky waitress. Her scene is hilarious. There is a tension and a sadness with these characters. It's a really compelling world.

The rip-roaring, at times hauntingly elegiac and at other times rousing, soundtrack enhances everything going on on screen.

Best Original Screenplay was very much deserving, with Sheridan once again striking gold with a snappy, smart and tightly structured script. While meditative in pacing, the story is nonetheless absorbing and surprisingly rich in its complexity. It's also intricately told and with a mix of the hard-edged and the elegiac.

Definitely a worthwhile watch! Oscar nominated but very deserving to win movie!