Terrific, if somewhat leisurely-paced contemporary western, with Jeff Bridges as an edge-of-retirement Ranger. He and his partner are on the trail of a couple of bank robbers.

You've seen all that before, but the big thing here is the setting, the characters, and the convincing acting -- this almost seems like a documentary.

The story also leaves you with something to discuss after the film, which is always a good thing.

One of the best movies of the year, "Hell or High Water" is believed by some to be a cops and robbers film. But that's not the case with this. there are a couple of bank rubbings, but there is a human element behind this movie. Chris Pine and Ben Foster played brothers who rob banks to protect the family ranch. On their heels is the town police offer played by Jeff Bridges who vow to bring the pair to justice. You probably wanted to know what happen in the end. If you guess what will happen next, chances are you will be wrong. And don't compare this movie to "Bonne and Clyde." the only difference between the two movies is that "Hell or High Water" has a lower body count and for once the filmmakers don't care about the body count. they made a movie about a chance at redemption. I would choose "Hell or High Water" over any summer blockbuster movie any day. You need to see this movie.

Western elements? Check.
Heist elements? Check.
Family oriented story? Check.
Cool facial hair on main characters? Check.
Unpredictable twists and turns? Check
Jeff Bridges, one of the most underrated actors ever? Check.
Chris Pine in a different, nuanced role? Check.
Ben Foster being entertaining as hell? Check.
One of the best films of the year that was criminally under-watched? Check.

My first inclination was to give this movie a "Good" rating, but upon reflection, I think it really does deserve a "See Now!" simply because it should be seen by anyone that enjoys a good movie.

Put Jeff Bridges in a movie, and it becomes worth watching for his performance alone. He doesn't disappoint as the Texas Ranger facing mandatory retirement who pursues two bank robbers hitting branches of the same bank in small towns. Adding flavor to his actions is a fellow Ranger who doesn't fail to point out the shortcomings of the senior Ranger, and their relationship throughout the movie provides interest and depth to the "good guys" perspective.

The bank robbers are played by Chris Pine and Ben Foster. I'm not a big Chris Pine fan, as I find many of his performances to be the same smug delivery that he uses as James T. Kirk in the Star Trek reboots. However, this movie shows the guy can act! While he is overshadowed at every turn by his brother who is always bordering on losing control, the two present a very believable sibling relationship.

You never get the impression that one actor is trying to upstage the other, and that restraint blends well with the pacing that the director uses in the movie. In "Hell or High Water," west Texas is a very bleak and downtrodden place, where everyone has a gun and an attitude. Poverty runs rampant like it was a disease and it's dusty, too. In that, the setting becomes yet another character of the movie.

The undercurrent throughout the proceedings is that the banks are stealing from the people. Multiple comments are made by everyone involved and the banks are not viewed in any way as the victim. This makes an obvious point for all but the most inattentive.

Hell or High Water is definitely worth watching. If you haven't seen it yet, put it at the top of your list of what to see next!

The story is simple, the cast is small, and the movie is very good!

The details of why two brothers are robbing banks is doled out slowly over the course of the film, but the way everything is presented keeps you engaged and waiting to see what happens next.

Definitely deserves its place on the Academy Awards Best Picture nominee list.