DT e-Paper, Saturday, 12 November, 2016

30
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2016
DT
Showtime
One of the best of 2016
This was an hour and 40 minutes of pure brilliance
• Mahmood Hossain
Hell or High Water will possibly
land in the top 10, if not the
top five, best films of 2016. One
thing can’t really be disputed is
the amazing performances by
both Chris Pine and Ben Foster.
With the addition of the ever-soreliable
grit of Jeff Bridges, it’s like
watching a modern day Western,
where outlaws roamed the towns
of west Texas, robbing banks.
However, this isn’t a heist film.
It’s about two brothers running
away from a turbulent past with
no hope for the future. Toby
(Pine) and Tanner (Foster) Howard
are brothers who are almost polar
opposites, but find themselves
taking part in a dangerous stage of
their lives for a common purpose.
Toby, even though frightening
when provoked, is the level
headed one. Tanner, on the other
hand, is a former convict with
reckless behaviour.
Toby goes along with the string
of bank robberies in order to keep
his ex-wife and sons financially
stable for the future, while saving
the family ranch. His older brother
Tanner teams up with him for
the exact same reason. There’s
a deadline to meet before the
bank takes it all, so naturally,
the Howard boys resort to the
desperate scheme.
The script is nothing grand nor
is it complicated. The story itself
is about the characters and human
drama. Being tracked down
by Marcus Hamilton (Bridges),
the tension and unspoken love
between the brothers can hit
home. There isn’t too much to
divulge on their past either. The
entire film feels like an “Old West”
thriller, pacing itself mighty
fine, eventually leading to a very
satisfying climax.
The direction by David
Mackenzie should also be
applauded, successfully capturing
the essence of old, high-tension
Westerns. From the dialogue to
the editing, what you see in the
final cut is worth every second.
And dare we say, this is possibly
Chris Pine’s best performance
in his career. In addition, it’s
important to note that Ben Foster
is criminally underrated. Time
after time, Foster has shown the
intensity of each character he has
ever played. It would be a shame
if he wasn’t considered for at least
a nomination for best supporting
actor.
Overall, we have yet another
amazing work on film that wasn’t
a huge hit in the box office. But
that’s the whole point of these
releases. They aren’t here to rack
on millions on top of millions at
the box office. They are here to tell
a damn good story with equally
engaging characters. •
Don’t blink
One of the most beautiful films you will ever see
• Mahmood Hossain
“If you must blink, do it now.” The
first words narrated by the main
character Kubo (Art Parkinson)
is a cautious instruction of how
one should watch this film. This
isn’t Disney, Pixar or Dreamworks.
Kubo and the Two Strings is the
ideal example of how beautiful an
animated film can be, without the
backing of a major studio. Laika,
the production house, has given
moviegoers and fantasy/adventure
seekers an incredible treat. From
the aesthetics to the actual story,
this film is a representation of
how magical the imagination
can be. Every minute detail,
from imperfectly lined teeth to
the orange shade of the sunset,
will make you forget that you
are actually watching a 3D stopmotion
fantasy, action-adventure
film.
With the budget of $60 million,
it’s really a shame the film could
only gather a little over $67
million in the US box office. But
the early reviews (from the time
of its release back in August)
were spot on about the dazzling
display of a Japanese set story and
background. This nearly perfect
film will leave you in awe, as well
as pull on your heartstrings. While
we all might be swept away by the
gorgeous animated details, we are
subtly lured into the myth found
in the story. And with the backing
of Hollywood stars like Matthew
McConaughey (Beetle) and
Charlize Theron (Monkey) lending
their voices to the characters, this
is a failsafe hit directed by Travis
Knight.
Apart from the all-American
accents in the voices, which might
throw you off a little, you will
finally appreciate the painstaking
work that each animator produced
for the film. With a quick peek
into the scale of this film at the
end-credits, you will surely find a
new found respect for the creative
individuals who bring life into
each animated character and
element. A highly recommended
film with a “Fresh” rating on
Rotten Tomatoes of 97%, Kubo and
the Two Strings is worth watching
multiple times. •