TWO MUST DECIDE THEIR FATE IN HELL OR HIGH WATER
The bank threatens to foreclose on a home occupied by a Texan’s sons and former wife. The economy has gone bust, no income stream is rolling in, so what does Toby Howard (played by Chris Pine) do? What can he do? Rather than becoming a millionaire as in 99 Homes (2015), Toby’s brother Tanner Howard (Ben Foster) has an idea: Rob the bank. In Billy-the-Kid style, they enter banks wearing masks, ask only for 10s and 20s, and then bury the vehicle used to carry out the perfect crime. But Texas Ranger Marcus Hamilton (Jeff Bridges) wants to carry out the perfect capture. Accompanied by Texas music and humor, though filmed in New Mexico, the cops are a step behind the robbers until the fourth bank robbery, when they lie in wait for a repeat performance. Then the robbers appear to outsmart the cops, but the suspense turns into a fascinating climax for each of the brothers and the Ranger, too. Director David Mackenzie selects a hackneyed, inappropriate title, however. MH