Oscars 2017: Every Best Picture Nominee - Ranked From Worst To Best

For better or worse, the Western genre has been enjoying yet another resurgence in recent years, with 2016 alone including the likes of The Magnificent Seven reboot, Jane Got A Gun, and The Free State of Jones, which is enough to make you think it maybe isn't worth it. But then last year also gave us Hell Or High Water, a neo-Western heist thriller, and one of the genre's recent high points.

The tale of two brothers who rob banks to save their ranch from foreclosure, it features strong central performances from an unhinged Ben Foster, a more morally uncertain Chris Pine, and an eccentric Jeff Bridges.

The true strength of the movie is in its script though, which comes from Sicario writer Taylor Sheridan. It's an incredibly smart and at times witty movie, one that favours real characterisation and emotional investment over random shootouts. And when it does delve into the action, Sheridan's script and David MacKenzie's direction ensure it's an utter thrill ride through a gorgeous Texan setting. This is what modern Westerns can and should be.