Hell or High Water

Hell or High Water has quietly become one of the more dependable crime dramas currently available in Australia on Netflix and Stan, and in the US on HBO Max Amazon Channel and YouTube TV. The length is exactly right for the story it is telling — nothing rushed, nothing dragged out. A 7/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Watch Jeff Bridges work — the performance is a masterclass in restraint. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Netflix.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Hell or High Water is worth clearing space for. At its heart, Hell or High Water understands what makes crime drama work — character first, plot second. A divorced dad and his ex-con brother resort to a desperate scheme in order to save their family's farm in West Texas. Credit to Jeff Bridges and Chris Pine for grounding it — this is a cast that earns the twists. It hit screens in 2016. What makes Hell or High Water hold up is that the resolution matters less than how the characters get there. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

Viewers who think they have seen every crime drama tend to find Hell or High Water proves them wrong. If you have run out of similar titles to watch, this is a strong next pick. Short enough to finish in one sitting, substantial enough to feel satisfying. Jeff Bridges's performance is the kind that shows up on best-of lists years later. If you have been looking for something to fill the gap left by a recently finished story, this is a reliable answer.