Hell or High Water - 4 smiles

The bleak, barren Texas terrain is a forceful character in director David Mackenzie's "Hell or High Water," starring Chris Pine, Ben Foster, Jeff Bridges and Gil Birmingham. Shots of refineries and oil rigs that visually obscure the horizon, deserted homes and businesses, dusty open spaces - a cowboy's dream gone bad. Now the banks seem to be the only thing surviving. This movie is a drama with a lot of gallows humor; it's a road movie; it's a buddy movie; it's about the little guy getting a bit of his own back. The story begins with a low-key bank robbery committed by brothers Toby (Pine) and Tanner Howard (Foster). Although Toby professes non-violence, we're not so sure about Tanner, who is an ex-con. Their motives, which involve reverse mortgages, oil drilling rights and Toby's estranged sons, remain murky. This appears intentional as Mackenzie and screenwriter Taylor Sheridan are content to allow the information to emerge organically. As a balance, the other side of the story is represented by two Texas Rangers - soon-to-retire Marcus Hamilton (Bridges) and his earnest partner Alberto Parker (Birmingham). These two share a companionable enmity with Marcus using Alberto as a verbal punching bag and Alberto holding his own. The strength of the screenplay allows us to see both sides and cheer for both sides and feel sorry for both sides. How cool is that?

Strong acting is another of the film's strengths. Pine, who has become synonymous with being the new James T. Kirk, is given an opportunity to show his genuine acting chops. He's excellent here. Foster, who co-starred with Pine earlier this year in The Finest Hours portrays Tanner as a loose cannon whose love for his brother is his saving grace. Jeff Bridges adopts a laid-back attitude, but underneath this lazy exterior is a savvy lawman. And Birmingham is the perfect foil to Bridges, tolerating the outdated political incorrectness of the older Ranger. The nature of the Ranges' relationship is as crucial to the story as the relationship between the brothers. "Hell or High Water" is a must-see. I hope you don't miss it.