Western enthusiasts are in for a treat with Netflix’s current lineup, boasting some of the finest films in the genre from the last quarter-century, including The Power of the Dog and The Ballad of Buster Scruggs. Not to mention, the streaming giant also offers top-notch TV series like Godless and American Primeval, both set in the rugged terrain of the Old West.
Yet, there’s a lesser-known flick on Netflix that’s been dubbed a “hidden gem” and is considered the best Western of the 21st century. Hell or High Water, released in 2016, has garnered an impressive 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It’s outperformed by only five other Westerns – Rio Bravo (1959), Stagecoach (1939), High Noon (1952), The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948) and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966).
This places David Mackenzie’s contemporary Texas-set neo-Western not just at the pinnacle of this century’s Westerns but as the finest in nearly six decades.
The plot follows siblings Toby (Chris Pine) and Tanner (Ben Foster) as they execute a string of heists against the bank threatening to seize their family ranch.
While Toby is a divorced father, his brother Tanner is a wild ex-convict; together, they’re chased down by the relentless Texas Rangers Marcus Hamilton (Jeff Bridges) and Alberto Parker (Gil Birmingham).
The film has received acclaim for its narrative and the performances of its leading actors.
IndieWire critic Eric Kohn remarked: “Just as it taps into a dying corner of American society, Hell or High Water resurrects the power of western mayhem done right.”
John Wenzel of the Denver Post praised the film, saying: “This neo-Western works splendidly as a self-contained tale of loyalty, loss and redemption, with polished turns from a smoldering Chris Pine and spunky Ben Foster.”
Empire Magazine’s critic Jimi Famurewa was impressed, remarking: “Taut, tense and burnished by Jeff Bridges at his best. This is a deceptively simple tale of Texan cops and robbers that drags the Old West into the modern age.”
Kate Muir from The Times lauded the movie, describing it as: “A smartly crafted heist thriller that quietly peels back the layers from its macho male characters to reveal the pain and tenderness inside.”
The film, part of Taylor Sheridan’s American Frontier Trilogy which includes Sicario and Wind River, garnered four Oscar nominations including Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor for Bridges, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Editing.
Audiences also showered the film with high praise.
One viewer enthused: “This is one of my favorite movies. Great acting that will have you rooting for the ‘bad guy’. That damn Chris Pine is one handsome fella, and who doesn’t love Jeff Bridges? It reminds me of No Country for Old Men, another one of my favorite flicks.”
Another fan gushed: “One of my favorite movies of all time. Should have won Oscars for best picture, screenplay, direction, and acting (Jeff Bridges). Almost every scene is a work of art. Love this movie.”
Many others described it as “classy, well written, directed, and acted,” and “exceptional and expertly crafted”.
Hell or High Water is currently available for streaming on Netflix.