The Ballad of Buster Scruggs - 9 stars out of 10
"The Balled of Buster Scruggs” is an anthology Western
with every bit of wit and dark humor that you expect from the Cohen Brothers. Is it one of those rare movies that I finished
and wanted to immediately start watching again.
Each vignette is completely memorable in its own way, which provides a
diverse viewing experience that feels cohesive because of its unified tone and setting. It has been trendy to rank the vignettes so I
will do the same:
1. All Gold Canyon
2. The Gal Who Got Rattled
3. The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
4. Meal Ticket
5. The Mortal Remains
6. Near Algodones
Honestly, a ranking probably isn’t fair because
they are all so good. As a whole, the
collection of stories work well together but I would have much preferred to see
the order adjusted so that the film ended with All Gold Canyon or The Gal Who
Got Rattled. After five poignant
conclusions, the ending of the final vignet seems rather anticlimactic, though
I can’t fault the Coen Brothers for choosing to end the film with one of their
original stories instead of one of the two that was based on someone else’s
work. I love the incorporation of traditional songs into Carter Burwell score (particularly "Mother Machree"). The violence is a bit graphic but it fits with the Western setting. I found this to be one of the more
entertaining films of 2018 and I’m glad that it was acknowledged with Oscar
nominations for Adapted Screenplay, Costume Design, and Original Song. Hopefully this will encourage Netflix to
continue producing content that is worthy of the Awards circuit. “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs” might seem a
little highbrow for some but I feel that it is accessible to most audiences. Each story lasts about 15 minutes and you’re
on to the next one if it didn’t appeal to you.
Anyone with a subscription to Netflix is missing out if they don’t give
this one a shot!
[Pictured: This film is highly entertaining even if you aren't a fan of Westerns]
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