<P> Hell or High Water is a 2016 American neo-Western crime thriller film directed by David Mackenzie and written by Taylor Sheridan, whose script was on the 2012 Black List . The film follows two brothers (Chris Pine and Ben Foster) who carry out a series of bank robberies to save their family ranch, while being pursued by two Texas Rangers (Jeff Bridges and Gil Birmingham). </P> <P> The film premiered at the Un Certain Regard section of the 2016 Cannes Film Festival on May 16, 2016, and was theatrically released in the United States on August 12, 2016 . It received critical acclaim and grossed $37 million . The American Film Institute selected it as one of its ten Movies of the Year, and it was nominated for numerous awards, including four Oscar nominations at the 89th Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Bridges), Best Original Screenplay and Best Film Editing . It also received Golden Globe nominations for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor for Bridges and Best Screenplay . </P> <P> In West Texas, divorced father Toby Howard (Chris Pine) and his ex-con brother Tanner (Ben Foster) carry out early morning robberies of two branches of the Texas Midlands Bank . Though the robberies are well - planned, Tanner's wild nature leads him to take unnecessary risks, frustrating Toby . </P> <P> Two Texas Rangers, Marcus Hamilton (Jeff Bridges) and Alberto Parker (Gil Birmingham), are on the case . Hamilton, who is close to retirement, quickly determines the brothers' methods and personalities . Meanwhile, Tanner robs another bank while Toby unknowingly waits at a nearby diner . They take the stolen money to an Indian casino in Oklahoma to be laundered . They exchange the stolen bills for chips, some of which Tanner uses to gamble . Toby then has the casino convert them into a check made out to the Texas Midlands Bank--the same bank they robbed . With untraceable funds and gambling as a cover for how they were acquired, the brothers head back to Texas . </P>

Where does hell or high water take place