Chris Pine, Jeff Bridges together in Hell Or High Water

As an actor, Jeff Bridges (left) has a long connection to both classic and contemporary westerns. He stars in Hell Or High Water.

Some images just conjure the traditions of the American West, such as that of lawmen chasing bandits across a barren plain. Even with modern additions like cellphones, cars or foreclosure concerns, the iconography of the western still has a powerful pull for filmmakers and audiences alike.

The new Hell Or High Water also draws great impact from the presence of Jeff Bridges, an actor who has appeared in both classical and contemporary westerns.