Jeff Bridges and Gil Birmingham star in a scene from the movie "Hell or High Water." The Catholic News Service classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. (CNS/CBS Films Publicity)

By Catholic News Service

Morally intricate tale of two brothers, one (Ben Foster) a cynical ex-con, the other (Chris Pine) a divorced dad with no criminal past, who go on a bank-robbing spree to save their family farm. When a duo of Texas Rangers (Jeff Bridges and Gil Birmingham) takes up the investigation, the cat-and-mouse game that results has unexpected — and tragic — consequences.

Working from a screenplay by Taylor Sheridan, director David Mackenzie gravely unfolds a hardscrabble story of exploitation and desperation. But, along with a gritty atmosphere and dialogue to match, the issues he weighs call for careful analysis on the part of mature viewers.

Some strong violence with brief gore, fleeting but graphic casual sex, occasional irreverence, about a half-dozen uses of profanity, frequent rough and crude language, numerous ethnic insults. The Catholic News Service classification is L — limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R — restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

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