Hell or High Water

As always, the fascinating setting of neo-western Texas is so bleak and grimy as to be immensely beautiful, and set within it is an admittedly unoriginal but utterly absorbing, rhythmic and logically unfolding plot about two bank robbers and a persistent sheriff. The performances are excellent throughout; directorially, the film it’s not dazzling, igniting tension with general communicativeness and intense escalation of the inevitable collision of the two sub-worlds, but within the established technical and narrative parameters, it’s a perfectly effective conversational detective drama that manages to create an excellent atmosphere only with engaging dialogues, diversified with an academically targeted racist theme. A great cool movie with the traditional Bridges and a great musical score by Nick Cave, a steal of the golden bald man might have been appropriate. (30/12/2016)

A modern western with everything, even with a straightforward uncomplicated story that is not stupid. And although I liked Sheridan's Wind River a little more, I have no reason not to be satisfied. The script takes great care of all the characters (even the smallest ones, such as the old man in the bank or the waitress - actually waitresses - in the restaurant), the actors are perfect, and the directing and the camera make it all great. Add the music of Nick Cave and Warren Ellis, and the fact that this whole thing has the zest of Sam Peckinpah films, and you'll understand why this isn’t the last time I will watch Hell or High Water. (16/12/2018)

I like stories of people who have most things wrong in life and yet wouldn't change a thing. It's a devil's deal that such stories often take place in Texas. From Toby and Tanner's robberies, I feel a burning longing for old times that will never return, and Jeff Bridges' grumbling ranger saws the contours of a Western almost to perfection. In combination with perfect cinematography that captures all the vast expanses with absorbing haziness, I'm not far from giving this the highest rating. There's only one thing preventing me – the persistent feeling that it borrowed too much from No Country for Old Men. (11/01/2017)

Texas has got something about it. The Southern atmosphere drips from each shot. McCarthy’s redneck poeticism engulfs you and Cave and Ellis have the lion´s share in this. A story about two brothers and their plan to overcome adversity embodied in bank clerks. Bridges’ lines are perfect, Foster is nicely crazy, Pine intentionally minimalistic. A modern western at its best. Sometimes even a blind pig can find its way to the trough. (05/12/2016)

The beautiful, colorful Texas setting and the lead actors are great in Hell or High Water, but I'm not so sure about the rest. The film is definitely high quality, the acting is entertaining and so are the visuals, but for me personally it focuses too much on the characters of the two detectives in contrast to the two thieves and their personality shift over the course of almost two hours, and the story is not that well developed. The action is sparse and there is almost no suspense, but the film has its charms and by all accounts will find an audience; I guess I was expecting something a little different. (10/11/2022)