Hell or High Watereffortlessly taps into the anger and despair currently fueling much of today’s politics – a climate marked by an increased mistrust towards political and capitalist institutions. It’s maybe the first ‘outlaws vs. cops’ film that sides completely with the outlaws.Chris PineandBen Fosterstar as bank-robbing brothers, getting back at the bank(s) threatening to seize their land. About midway through the film, the Marshalls chasing the brothers (Gil Birmingham&Jeff Bridges) stop, look at a bank and wonder if they’re even chasing the right crooks. The film’s politics couldn’t be any clearer – when faced with a corrupt and corrosive institution, theonlycourse of action is to break the law.
In the following interview with Chris Pine & Ben Foster, the actors discuss the film’s political message, perfecting a West Texas accent and creating a backstory for their characters.
Chris Pine and Ben Foster:
Here’s the official synopsis forHell or High Water:
A story about the collision of the Old and New West, two brothers — Toby (Chris Pine), a straight-living, divorced father trying to make a better life for his son; and Tanner (Ben Foster), a short-tempered ex-con with a loose trigger finger — come together to rob branch after branch of the bank that is foreclosing on their family land. The hold-ups are part of a last-ditch scheme to take back a future that powerful forces beyond their control have stolen from under their feet. Vengeance seems to be theirs until they find themselves in the crosshairs of a relentless, foul-mouthed Texas Ranger (Jeff Bridges) looking for one last triumph on the eve of his retirement. As the brothers plot a final bank heist to complete their plan, a showdown looms at the crossroads where the last honest law man and a pair of brothers with nothing to live for except family collide.
