By Susan Granger

Reminiscent of “Unforgiven” and “No Country For Old Men,” “Hell or High Water” is a gritty, contemporary Western, set in West Texas, focuses on the Howard brothers, who concoct a plan to wreak revenge on the greedy bank that swindled their dying mother out of her land.

Divorced dad Toby (Chris Pine) is determined that his sons inherit the oil-rich family ranch which is under threat of foreclosure. So he turns to his sociopathic, ex-con brother Tanner (Ben Foster) for help.

Toby devises a clever plan to rob several small small-town branches of the Texas Midlands Bank, then launder the money through an Indian-run casino, just over the state line in Oklahoma. With untraceable casino checks made out to Texas Midlands Bank, he can settle their debt.

Wearing hoodies and ski-masks, Toby and Tanner start the heists. Which draws the attention of about-to-retire Texas Ranger Marcus Hamilton (Jeff Bridges) who surmises that these aren’t your usual bank robbers, not meth-heads or sociopaths, since they take small denomination bills from the cash drawers.

Steve Songs wrapped up the Melissa & Doug Children’s Series tonight at the Westport Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts with a back to school special show. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) J.C. Martin for WestportNow.com

A couple of guests at tonight’s closing children’s concert at the Levitt Pavilion dance the night away to the sounds of entertainer Steve Songs. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) J.C. Martin for WestportNow.com

The Fairfield Counts swing band featuring vocalist Michele Grace delighted a full Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts audience tonight. The band is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

Audience members dance to the big band sound of the Fairfield Counts tonight at the Levitt Pavilion. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

Tonight’s Fairfield Counts concert at the Levitt Paviion for the Performing Arts included a tribute to the Andrews Sisters and their hit “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.” (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

Mort Ginsburg, 90, of Stamford got a featured spot as he played second alto saxophone tonight for the Fairfield Counts at the Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

The cast of the Westport Country Playhouse production of playwright Joe Orton’s play “What The Butler Saw,” rehearses for tonight’s first preview of the comedy offering a little blackmail and a lot of sexual innuendo. The play, directed by John Tillinger, who helmed a recent, critically acclaimed production of the show in Los Angeles, as well as earlier productions in London and New York, runs through Sept. 10. Pictured are (l-r) Paxton Whitehead, Sarah Manton and Robert Stanton. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

A fall art exhibit that examines bullying in a broad cultural context is set to run from Sept. 9 through Oct. 29 at the Westport Arts Center (WAC).

Among works on display is this white marble bench by artist Jenny Holzer. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Titled “More than Words” the exhibit will explore how perceived imbalances of social, physical or political power can be abused to marginalize others, according to WAC officials.

The exhibit will launch with a reception open to the public on Friday, Sept. 9, from 6 to 8 p.m.

The show includes artistic expressions of gender, racial, religious, geopolitical and age inequality, as well as works that serve to demonstrate the impact of bullying and cyberbullying, according to an announcement.

Award-winning instrumentalist, vocalist and bandleader Cynthia Sayer, celebrated as one of the top 4-string jazz banjoists in the world, performed tonight despite rain to a hearty crowd at Westport’s Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo