'Hell or High Water' officially opens

MANAGING EDITOR

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Before it made its way to the Cannes Film Festival and select cities across the nation, “Hell or High Water” was making its way through the streets of Clovis and Portales.

Staff photo: Kevin Wilson

“Hell or High Water” made its debut for general audiences Friday at North Plains 7 in Clovis.

It made its return to Clovis on Friday as another film on the slate for the North Plains Cinema 7.

The 1:45 p.m. matinee — the first general screening — drew an audience of about 50 waiting to see where and who they knew in the hour and 42 minutes of Texas Ranger Marcus Hamilton (Jeff Bridges) trying to chase down the Howard brothers (Chris Pine, Ben Foster) as they rob a string of small-town Texas banks.

Before eastern New Mexico filmgoers were introduced to Hamilton or the Howards, they were introduced to their own Main Street, with the building they know as the Suddenlink Communications office in Clovis modified into the Archer City branch of Texas Midland Bank.

Other Clovis and Portales locations played the role of other bank branches during the spree the Howards would use to retake ownership of their family farm.

As filmgoers stepped out of the dark theater and into the bright sun of the New Mexico afternoon, they left mostly impressed with the experience.

“Oh, I enjoyed it,” said Ann Johnson, who was joined by her friend Donna Alexander. “It was very entertaining, with good old country language.”

Johnson and Alexander spoke back and forth in praise, with each piggybacking off the other’s sentence and noting they largely came to see how much local scenery they recognized.

“I loved it all,” Alexander said. “We never get good Westerns anymore, and it was really great to see.”

Tyler Ash went to watch a friend who snared a role as an extra in the movie.

“Good (movie), I liked it,” Ash said. “It’s a cool movie. I liked (the scenes in) Portales best.”

Brandy Glenn wasn’t as impressed. She came to the matinee without knowing much about the movie.

Walter and Sharwyn Smith were impressed with the cast, including the supporting characters.

“I liked the old lady waitress,” Walter Smith said with a smile, referencing a rude waitress who told customers they were getting a T-bone steak and iced tea and they could only pick the side dish.

Had he ever had a real-life version of that waitress? “No, never.”

Sharwyn Smith said it was a good show, and Walter echoed those sentiments when asked what he’d tell a friend about the film.

“I’d tell them to go see it,” Walter said. “It’s really good.”