Even the casting feels like a nod to both 70s and contemporary cinema.

Instead, Bridges plays a world-weary Texas Ranger on the hunt for the two robbers.

Congratulations on the film.

You must be delighted with the reception so far.

It feels good, yeah.

And its been released a few months later.

Its been a quick and lively process, and I couldnt be more happy with the response to it.

It was a really positive shoot, as well.

We could tell we were doing good stuff when we were making it.

I understand you only had Chris Pine for a couple of weeks two and a half weeks was it?

Two and a half weeks with Chris, yeah.

So that was pretty tight.

We spent two and a half weeks living with and siding with the outlaws, kind of thing.

It wasnt deliberate, but we made an advantage out of it.

Thats really interesting, how it lent itself to the tone of the performances.

LikeStarred Up, theres a sense of lived experience here.

The language feels like its from someone who knows and understands that terrain.

The secret is to have some great, original material.

I dont want to sound too wanky, but just be a bit jazz about it.

Im always trying to fight that and make it feel alive, and open to opportunity.

Its a political film in a way, isnt it?

Its kind of weird as an outsider, because I dont think I have the right to be judgemental.

It feels like that its a fortuitous time for the film to be out in the marketplace.

Its a very funny film, but it also feels like the death of something.

The death of a certain way of life or a class of people.

Its very much a hymn to the passing of the Old West.

But Im really glad you said its funny, because there is a lot of humour in it.

The scene that sticks in my head immediately is the one in the diner.

What aintcha gonna have?

Whats amazing is, that scene is exactly as Taylor wrote it.

I didnt change a word of it.

You really feel the weight of the script.

Im not even sure whether Taylor was aware of how funny it is not in terms of laugh-out-loud comedy.

Its kind of interesting.

And for that not to unbalance things, Im really proud of that.

There are moments where its quiet and contemplative, where there are gaps.

But then there are moments where theres breakneck action.

I couldnt have imagined a better experience with an iconic movie star like him.

Ive admired him for a long time.

He was incredibly creative.

There was quite a lot of improvisation we were doing, and he was just interested in everything.

He was really good fun to work with and hang around with afterwards.

It was the perfect combo, really.

I love all my cast, but Jeff is pretty special.

Theres a universal theme in this film, I think.

Which is the observation that human beings need a sense of purpose and dignity.

And thats what Chris Pines character wants for his family.

Is that something you wanted to bring out?

It is very much about that.

That theres a universal humanity throughout the film.

People like Hal Ashby, who in their own, rambling way, just love their characters.

I aspire to that.

Funny you should mention the 70s.

I wondered if you agreed with that, and what it says about filmmaking now.

Well, I think it was a great period for American cinema that was unfortunately obliterated by event cinema.

Event cinema is what it is, and I understand why its successful.

It started with things like Jaws, which are extraordinary movies.

But what weve lost are great character films which are beautifully directed and had great movie stars in them.

Films that were about something rather than about spectacle.

We have lost that.

I hope therell be more flowerings.

Because those are the kinds of films I like to watch.

I got the same feeling when I watchedMargin Calla while ago.

Also, I think they like doing it as well!

Long more there be more opportunities like that, you know?

This films very much about the 99 percent.

I hadnt thought of it like that.

But I guess so.

Theres certainly an unbalance there.

Do you think theres a way of creating more of a balance?

It is most likely to be about films of this throw in being able to generate revenue or not!

Thats another way things could change.

But at least the conversation is still ongoing!

With that, were sadly out of time.

David Mackenzie, thank you very much.

Hell Or High Wateris out in UK cinemas on the 9th September.