If this film is evaluated with the historical routine of "Land of the Law", I think it is too small. Is Hell or High water a Western? When watching this film, first of all, it should be clear what is called a "western film". From the essence of Western films, I personally prefer films that "when the legal system fails to punish the wicked, they use a 'a tooth for an eye for an eye' approach to carry out just revenge to achieve personal appeals". Of course, there are also cowboys, horses, revolvers, duels, bars and other elements. But in Hell or High water, it's clearly not a Western in the traditional sense. First of all, the Howard brothers are not on the side of justice. Brother Tanner himself has a record of bank robbery, "manslaughter" their father, and was imprisoned for 10 years. Brother Toby is the mastermind behind this series of robberies, and even Tanner, whom he invited, was involved in the bank robbery. How can such a person be the righteous side of the Western movie? Secondly, are the two brothers desperate and need "justice"? It can be seen from the dialogue in the film that it was the younger brother Toby who planned this series of bank robberies. For Tanner, he's just a helper, because one person can't do it all. But what exactly is Toby for? As time goes on, the film slowly says why. The dead mother took a loan like a bank, and if it can't be repaid, a large farm is about to be repossessed. Toby's failed marriage, along with his ex-wife and two children, requires him a lot of alimony, which he actually owes a lot. He doesn't have a job, and his entire belongings may be the farm that is about to be repossessed and a few lean cows. But are all these justifiable reasons for the two of them to rob the bank? In other words, if you were in this field, would you be able to rob a bank? Again, who is the opposite? In the old Westerns, the good guy was the good guy and the bad guy was the bad guy. It may be confusing as the story progresses, but in the end there is no doubt that the bad guys will be severely punished. In "Hell or High What about in water? In the words of the trooper Marcos, "four people died", a bank security officer, a brave passerby, an Indian-American Texas Ranger, and the robber Tanner. If Toby and Tanner are the protagonists of this Western, is justice done for the deaths of the other three? So, who is the opposite? In the end, did the good guys have the last laugh? In "The Hateful Eight", the two faced death with a smile. In "Valley of Violence", the soldier seeks revenge for his dog. In the end, they both got a happy ending. What about in Hell or High water? The younger brother who planned the robbery earned $50,000 a month and tried to live a harmonious life with his family again. A retired police officer is haunted for life by the remorseful experience of his partner's tragic death. Hell or High water, I think it's really bad to translate "Going through fire and water". It does not reflect the conflict between the two sides at all, but only amplifies one side infinitely. It's a good crime movie, with a Western-like guise, but it's all reversed on the inside. The hostility of all of them, including Toby, Howard, Indian-American Mounted Police, and breakfast passers-by to the bank, almost represents a dissatisfaction with reality and an escape from the self. This is to say, to go deeper. I refuse to go deep. The most shocking scene for me is that the rider was forced by the fire and drove the cattle to the river for refuge. This completely symbolizes the loneliness of Western films. In the 21st century, there is no market for the appearance of Western films, and only the old people are left recalling the past, "No wonder no children are willing to do this." water, I think it's really bad to translate it as "Going through fire and water". It does not reflect the conflict between the two sides at all, but only amplifies one side infinitely. It's a good crime movie, with a Western-like guise, but it's all reversed on the inside. The hostility of all of them, including Toby, Howard, Indian-American Mounted Police, and breakfast passers-by to the bank, almost represents a dissatisfaction with reality and an escape from the self. This is to say, to go deeper. I refuse to go deep. The most shocking scene for me is that the rider was forced by the fire and drove the cattle to the river for refuge. This completely symbolizes the loneliness of Western films. In the 21st century, there is no market for the appearance of Western films, and only the old people are left recalling the past, "No wonder no children are willing to do this." water, I think it's really bad to translate it as "Going through fire and water". It does not reflect the conflict between the two sides at all, but only amplifies one side infinitely. It's a good crime movie, with a Western-like guise, but it's all reversed on the inside. The hostility of all of them, including Toby, Howard, Indian-American Mounted Police, and breakfast passers-by to the bank, almost represents a dissatisfaction with reality and an escape from the self. This is to say, to go deeper. I refuse to go deep. The most shocking scene for me is that the rider was forced by the fire and drove the cattle to the river for refuge. This completely symbolizes the loneliness of Western films. In the 21st century, there is no market for the appearance of Western films, and only the old people are left recalling the past, "No wonder no children are willing to do this."
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