Everything
is bigger in Texas, except their latest serial bank robbers. The Howard Brother
bandits are definitely playing small ball, but with a purpose. They will only
hit a particular bank with branches located exclusively in West Texas and they just
take the loose bills in the teller drawers. As a result, the FBI has no time
for them, leaving them to a Texas Ranger on the verge of retirement. Yet, that
old bird dog is still enjoys the hunt in David Mackenzie’s Hell or High Water (trailer here), which opens today in New York.
Tanner
Howard did not learn much responsibility when he was in prison. That was always
his brother Toby’s department, but trying circumstances still managed to
overwhelm the younger Howard sibling. He nursed their mother during the final
days of her prolonged illness, while reeling from own divorce. Since he has
little income to speak of, the bank is on the brink of foreclosing their predatory
mortgage on the family ranch. That would be particularly unfortunate, since oil
has been discovered on the property. You know: black gold, Texas Tea.
Essentially,
the smarter Howard boy came up with the plan to pay off the bank by robbing its
unmarked cash, laundering it through the local Native American casino, paying
off the mortgage, and then putting the oil rich ranch into trust for his
semi-estranged sons. However, time is running out and Tanner isn’t getting any
more stable. Plus, grizzled old Marcus Hamilton, the Archie Bunker of the Texas
Rangers, and his long-suffering Comanche-Mexican American partner Alberto Parker
are on the case, so the last bank they need is likely to be a toughie.
Yes
sir, this film is set in Texas and even though it was filmed in New Mexico, the
British Mackenzie (known for Starred Up and
the over-achieving science fiction fable Perfect Sense) gets the look, sounds, and attitude precisely right. Of course, he
gets a massive assist from honorary Texan Jeff Bridges, who goes back to the Crazy Heart-True Grit well, chewing the
scenery with laconic orneriness. Bridges is instantly credible in a part like
this, yet it is almost shocking how broken down and decrepit he looks.
Chris
Pine is fine as Toby Howard, but Ben Foster is a scene-stealing natural fit for
the emotionally erratic Tanner. However, it is Gil Birmingham who really gives
the film heart and integrity as the eternally patient Parker. He and Bridges
are terrific playing off each other in scenes that often have an uncomfortably
sharp edge.
Jeff
Bridges’ salty hardnose persona might give HOHW
the appearance a safe “greatest hits” style package, but Taylor Sheridan’s
screenplay is surprisingly smart in nearly every respect. There is a good deal
of wry humor in the film, but it also has tragic heft. Recommended for fans of
Southwestern noirs in the Blood Simple tradition,
Hell or High Water opens today (8/12)
in New York, at the Loews Lincoln Square uptown and the Regal Union Square
downtown.
