Hell or High Water is a fine film but to put it in the same category as La La Land can only occur if someone was actually dancing toward a star. Hell or High Water has great acting, compelling characters and an interesting ending but it almost as slow as “Arrival” in which I wanted to be anywhere else. After you meet the basic criteria of film-making the next factor must be entertaining and that is where “Hell or High Water” gets a bit too cold. I understand the need to be artistic and maybe showing the slow pace of rural Texas can pull you into the situation but they kept it up for too long and I was pulled away, only to come back for the compelling ending. La La Land on the other end had all the aspects of great film-making and still was entertaining all the way through. The best picture still is traveling to La, La Land as I skipped through a bit of Hell or was it hot water?
*** Hell or High Water- A fine film in which you can take a 20 minute nap inbetween.