Oscars Preview: 30 Movies to Watch Before the Nominations Come Out!

Hell or High Water promotional image via CBS Films

Hell or High Water

What it’s about:

Hell or High Water is a crime/Western movie about Toby and Tanner Howard. The two brothers carry out robberies in banks in West Texas, hoping to save their family ranch. But tensions rise between them when Tanner, who is an ex-convict, makes progressively riskier decisions. Meanwhile, Hamilton and Parker are Rangers who are attempting to hunt down the crime partners. When the Rangers deduce where the next robbery may take place, Toby and Tanner’s plans get a bit more complicated.

Major Players

David Mackenzie directed this Western drama. The script was penned by Taylor Sheridan, who is known primarily for his acting role in Sons of Anarchy, but also gained recognition for writing the script for 2015’s Sicario. Chris Pine plays Toby Howard, while Ben Foster plays his brother Tanner. Six-time nominee and 2010 Best Actor winner Jeff Bridges plays the Texas Ranger Hamilton, while Gil Birmingham plays his partner Parker.

What the Critics are Saying

Hell or High Water is enjoying almost universal praise, boasting a 98% on Rotten Tomatoes and an 88% on Metacritic. Critics are lauding the way that the film uses the heist and Western genre formats as a vehicle for “a tale of brotherhood and family,” as Joe Morgenstern of the Wall Street Journal writes. Christopher Orr of The Atlantic agrees, stating that it is “…a genre film that transcends genre, an iconic American tale that is nonetheless firmly grounded in both place and time.” Particular praise has been awarded to Sheridan’s script, which Ann Hornaday of the Washington Post calls “expertly executed.”

Possible Nominations:

Best Picture, Best Director (Mackenzie) Best Original Screenplay (Sheridan), Supporting Actor (Bridges)