NM-made Hell or High Water grabs 4 Oscar noms
By Adrian Gomez
New Mexico (The Hollywood Times) 1/24/17 – “La La Land” may have picked up the most Academy Award nominations on Tuesday.
New Mexico-tied productions picked up a few nominations — in some big categories.
“Hell or High Water,” which was filmed in New Mexico, picked up four nominations. It’s biggest nomination comes in the best picture category, where it will compete with eight other films.
picked up a nomination for actor in supporting role.
It was also nominated for original screenplay, which Taylor Sheridan penned and best film editing. The film opened in August and quickly became one of the most successful independent films of 2016.
It is a story about the collision of the Old and New West, as two brothers – Toby, played by Chris Pine, a straight-living, divorced father trying to make a better life for his son; and Tanner, played by Ben Foster, a short-tempered ex-con with a loose trigger finger — come together to rob branch after branch of the bank that is foreclosing on their family land.
The holdups are part of a last-ditch scheme to take back a future that powerful forces beyond their control have stolen from under their feet. Vengeance seems to be theirs until they find themselves in the cross hairs of a relentless, foul-mouthed Texas Ranger Marcus Hamilton, played by Bridges, who is looking for one last triumph on the eve of his retirement.
Production for the film began in May 2015 and employed more than 100 New Mexico crew members and more than 850 background talent workers, according to the New Mexico Film Office.
Locations include Clovis, Estancia, Moriarty, Portales, Tucumcari and Albuquerque, though the film is set in West Texas.
Another New Mexico-filmed production picked up an Oscar nomination. Viggo Mortensen picked up the nomination for his role in “Captain Fantastic.” The production was filmed in Albuquerque, Las Cruces and Mesilla.
In other New Mexico-tied nominations, Michael Shannon picked up a nomination for actor in a supporting role for the film, “Nocturnal Animals.” While the movie wasn’t filmed in New Mexico, it was directed by Santa Fe resident Tom Ford.
