“Hell or High Water”

More Thoughts

This week’s movie was actually a request! And I have to say that it was actually fairly difficult to review (You can tell by the number of jump cuts on the Instagram video). Now, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, I rated it four stars. The difficulty comes in our expectations of a movie.

When “Hell or High Water” was recommended to me, I hadn’t even heard of it. It’s on Netflix but I’ve never seen it advertised. I truly had no idea what to expect, save for the few words that accompanied the request. I don’t think it quite fits into the general category of film. Rather, it’s a weird crossover into cinema. That, of course, is a strange distinction and perhaps a reason for another blog post.

This movie isn’t one that you watch “for fun”. I doubt it would get favorable reviews from the general public, simply because it’s a beautiful movie. It’s well put together. The environment it builds is astounding. The pacing is a thing of beauty. And yet, it doesn’t have the typical full-on action that we, as a society, have come to see as the only reason for film. God forbid the movie doesn’t keep you on the edge of your seat.

Movies were first made to tell stories. Over time those stories have evolved but the general idea hasn’t. I noted in my blog about suspension of disbelief that we go to the movies to escape from our reality. A lot of times it’s seen that they have to be action movies or comedies. But that’s not true. It’s OK to slow down for a while. It’s OK to take a break and watch a movie that is really, truly beautiful.

I do recommend you watch this movie. Take a night for yourself and just enjoy cinema. Enjoy living in a world that’s not yours, enjoy the sounds, enjoy the environment, enjoy the little pockets of drama, but enjoy the tranquility more.

Comment down below what your opinions of this movie are, and don’t forget to check out my Instagram Page (@ChrisMovieReviews), catch up on past reviews and new movie reviews on my YouTube, look at all the movies I’ve yet to review, and submit which movie you want me to review next!