HollywoodSpotlightNow
Movie Reviews Just for You
  • What's New
    • Barb and Star go to Vista Del Mar
    • Our Friend : A Story of True Friendship
    • Heroes Real and "Marvel"-ous Conquer
    • Herself/I Carry You With Me
    • Recon: A Soldier's Story
    • What's New In November
    • Lots of Treats, One Big Trick. Ctober Streaming
    • Women in Powerful Roles Now Streaming
    • The Secret Garden Creates a Magical World for Young and Old(er)
    • The Cuban Moves to Its Own Beat
    • Age is Only A Number for "The Old Guard"
    • Hamilton Debuts On Disney+
    • Red, Blue and Irresistible
    • May 2020 New Movie Releases for Streaming and VOD
    • Trolls World Tour
    • StarWars:The Rise of Skywalker, BadBoysforLife, Sonic the Hedgehog, Tales from the Loop now on VOD
    • I Still Believe Christian-themed film available via VOD
    • Black Widow Theatrical Opening Postponed Due to Covid-19
    • Tom Hanks Movies Covid 19
    • Parasite Makes History at 2020 Academy Awards
    • Spike Lee breaks barriers, is first black selected to lead Cannes Film Festival Jury
  • First Look
    • Vegan : Trending in Hollywood
    • Ordinary Love: Opens on Valentine's Day 2020
    • Golden Globes go Vegan
    • A Quiet Place 2
    • Greta & Hansel: A Grim Fairy Tail
    • Top Gun: Maverick Trailer
    • In The Heights Trailer
    • Charlie's Angels Premiere
    • Rocket Man aims for awards season success
    • Charlie's Angels First Look
    • Frozen 2
  • IN THEATERS
    • The Way Back
    • Emma: It's a Charmed Life
    • Fantasy Island: Be Careful What You Wish For
    • Taking a Relationship to New Depths in "Downhill"
    • Blake Lively proves her versatility in "The Rhythm Section"
    • The Gentlemen: A Rapid Fire Crime Comedy
    • Bad Boys for Life
    • Women in Film: Oscar Best Screenplay Nominations
    • 1917: War is Hell
    • Just Mercy opens in wide release
    • Thoroughly Modern "Marmee"
    • Little Women is a Welcome Holiday Gift
    • Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
    • Bombshell
    • Frozen 2: It's Hot
    • A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood
    • The Good Liar: Relationships
    • The Good Liar: Romance is hot, but Revenge is served up cold
    • Ford v Ferrari is at the starting line for awards season
    • Terminator: Dark Fate
    • Harriet Tubman: Real American Superhero
    • Angelina Jolie Travels Between Light and Dark in "Maleficent: Mistress of Evil"
    • Second Time is Twice as Nice for Elle Fanning
    • Blinded By The Light Shines
    • StarWars:The Rise of Skywalker, BadBoysforLife, Sonic the Hedgehog, Tales from the Loop now on VOD
    • Yesterday
    • Rocketman
  • Binge Worthy
    • Unbelievable
    • Constance Zimmer/"UnREAL"
    • JK Simmons Goes For the Win in "Break Point"
    • PaleyFest-"Better Call Saul"
  • Streaming/DVD
    • Women in Powerful Roles Now Streaming
    • May 2020 New Movie Releases for Streaming and VOD
    • BADLAND: COWBOYS, QUARANTINE AND AN HOMAGE TO CHILDHOOD HEROES
    • April 2020 DVD and Streaming Releases
    • Trolls World Tour
    • StarWars:The Rise of Skywalker, BadBoysforLife, Sonic the Hedgehog, Tales from the Loop now on VOD
    • Tom Hanks Movies Covid 19
    • The Irishman: New light on an old mystery
    • The Game Changers: Food for Thought
    • Maleficent: Angelina Jolie Loves Halloween
    • Will Smith is "Gemini Man"
    • Downton Abbey, It's Your Cup of Tea
    • Shaft
    • Late Night
    • Aladdin
    • Late Night
  • Spotlight Productions
    • Spotlight Productions >
      • Alesia Stanford
  • What's New
  • practice
  • McConaughey, Grant play against type in "The Gentlemen"

chris pine proves he's more than just an action star in "Hell or high water"

Picture
  In "Hell or High Water" Chris Pine and Ben Foster are two brothers out to get a bit of their own brand of justice.  Pine's "Toby" is a nice enough guy, divorced with two boys and owes so much child support he hasn't seen them in a couple of years. He's spent the last several months taking care of his tying mother. Toby has teamed up with his brother, "Tanner," and ex-con, played by Foster.  The brothers stand to inherit their late mother's property, but we discover it's been mortgaged to the bank in order to help cover the cost of her final care.  In an effort to pay of the mortgage, they've come up with a play to steal money from the bank before it's due.  Pine's "Toby" takes the role of the gentleman robber, not wanting to hurt anyone but the bank. Foster's "Tanner" brings a brutality to the heists.  There's a fire festering beneath his exterior, but we don't learn why at first. Slowly it's revealed the brothers were brutalized in their childhood and "Tanner" has been in jail for his part in evening the score. 

​
Jeff Bridges joins the cast as a Texas Ranger on his last rodeo. He's up for retirement but wants to go out with one last notch on his belt.  He travels the state, trying to get into the minds of the robbers.  The East Texas where the film is set is a bleak place, hit hard by the Great Recession. Folks are struggling to get by and don't have much sympathy for the bank, but they still don't want anyone robbing it.    The screenplay by Taylor Sheridan is wry with humor as dry as a Texas tumbleweed.  Director David Mackenzie does a wonderful job of making the audience root for the robbers while still wanting Bridges' ranger to get his men. 
Hell or Highwater is a boon for Pine, who's proved he can do the action hero thing and even sing. He puts in a subtle performance here as a man bent on doing what he feels needs to be done for a greater good.  Hell or High Water is what good moving making is all about. 
Visa Signature Offer