Hell or High Water — Powerful
The global financial crisis in 2008 was truly a serious shock to the world. Regular, everyday people, good people, were seriously harmed by the excesses of Wall Street that had been unleashed in the early 80’s. Little did Lewis Ranieri know, his invention, the mortgage backed security, or MBS, would be at the center of the largest recession the world had seen since the Great Depression. Banks, mortgage lenders, and hedge funds all took advantage of good hard working people and took everything from them. 14 years on from the crisis, a few movies are trickling in depicting the misery incurred by these people. One such movie is Hell or High Water, a story of two brothers and their desperate last-ditch effort to save their mother’s house while being pursued by two Texas Rangers. This movie is a raw depiction of just how far the damage has reverberated throughout society.
The story begins with brothers Toby and Tanner Howard, played by Chris Pine and Ben Foster, on their way to rob a bank in west Texas. They hit the bank just as it is opening to avoid civilians getting hurt or playing hero. They make a clean getaway back to their ranch, where they bury their getaway car. Their mother has died after a long illness, leaving their ranch in debt because of a reverse mortgage provided by the Texas Midlands Bank which would lead to foreclosure if not settled.
They launder their robbery hauls at an Indian casino in Oklahoma. With untraceable funds and gambling as a cover for how they were acquired, the brothers head back and forth. The plan is to rob only as much as they need in order to repay their reverse mortgage. On their last run, they encounter a group of vigilantes. It’s Texas after all, and everyone LARP’s like they’re Master Chief in Halo. The brothers race out of town with the local posse in pursuit. Once out of town, Tanner stops the car and begins firing his automatic rifle at the posse, forcing most of them to turn back. But not before calling in the cavalry. The Rangers show up and wound Tanner, giving Toby just enough time to escape with the money.
The film ends with Toby in his ranch which he bequeathed to his two sons. In a poignant exchange with Ranger Hamilton, Toby explains that poverty is a virus moving from generation to generation and that he has finally broken free. Hamilton fails to see Toby’s point of view but leaves when Toby’s ex-wife shows up with his kids, leaving their conflict unresolved; a brilliant allegory to real life and the unfinished battle against Wall Street greed and corruption.
Hell or High Water is a brilliant film showing the stark realities that face millions of Americans today. The film debuted in 2016, just before that desperation boiled over across the world. That year brought us a violent social reaction to these issues in the form of Brexit in the UK and the election of Trump in the US. The film captures this desperation and suffering very eloquently. With moving imagery of the West Texas desolation, we see just how bad things have gotten. Having visited many parts of this country, I can honestly say that it’s not isolated to West Texas. This film doesn’t depict anything far-fetched or fictional. That’s why it’s appealing to broad audiences. People can relate to this film.
The acting in Hell or High Water is spot on. By now Chris Pine has matured into a capable actor, able to deliver powerful lines that drive a message that needs to be delivered. One of the lines that stuck with me from this film was Chris Pine explaining how poverty is a disease that takes over whole generations. While Chris Pine is fantastic in this flick, for me, it’s Ben Foster who steals the show. This guy can really act! Ben Foster plays a character who’s reached his breaking point. He no longer sees the point in living in a society that abuses its downtrodden. He makes mention of a transformation into a Comanche warrior, signifying that his last days are coming and he won’t go down without a fight. Foster captures this struggle flawlessly. I’m very excited to see his future projects since he dominates the scene every time I see him.
Jeff Bridges shows that he still has it after so many years. His interactions with his partner Alberto, played by Gil Birmingham, showcased witty banter between two old pros. Birmingham has been a supporting character actor for quite some time and was brilliant in the miniseries Under the Banner of Heaven which I’ve also reviewed. Their dialogue is not the type to be heard among the woke crowds. They are raw and realistic. Appealing to masculinity long since gone, but for which people quietly yearn.
Director David Mackenzie clearly has a solid understanding of the script and its social commentary. Every scene is carefully crafted to portray America’s dire situation. The cinematography captures the West Texas desolation perfectly. It’s a peaceful, serene land rocked by the excesses of outsiders.
Overall, Hell or High Water is a film with a keen understanding of the cultural zeitgeist today. The effects of the global financial crisis are still reverberating to this day. Just as society began to pick itself up from this crisis, they get hit by another crisis in the form of an unspecified virus of unknown origin. This film cogently shows how, just like society, the Howard brothers can’t seem to catch a break. The film shows the desperation not just of the brothers, but society itself. It’s a nuanced message that if things don’t radically change for the better, we’ll continue to see shocks such as Brexit and Trump more often. I highly recommend catching this movie wherever you can!
If you like this review, check out the video review on youtube: https://youtu.be/4hBz4f-N2KU