The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
Starring: Tim Blake Nelson, James Franco, Liam Neeson, Harry Melling, Tom Waits, Zoe Kazan, Brendan Gleeson, Tyne Daly
Director: Joel and Ethan Coen
A six part anthology series that follows various stories in the Old West. I will outline each of the segments with my review to follow!
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
Buster Scruggs, (Tim Blake Nelson) aka the San Saba Songbird, wanders the West strumming his guitar and a-singin a clever ditty. Don’t let his pleasant demeanor fool you, as he has a fierce penchant for violence.
Near Algodones
Chronicles the fortune, good and bad, of a Bank Robber (James Franco) who crosses the wrong bank teller (Stephen Root).
Meal Ticket
After seeing crowds dwindle, an armless and legless actor sees himself being replaced when his Impresario (Liam Neeson) decides to replace the actor with a chicken who can do math.
All Gold Canyon
A down on his luck prospector (Tom Waits) scours the West for the big score.
The Gal Who Got Rattled
Alice (Zoe Kazan) and her brother Gilbert set out in a wagon train for Oregon, where Gilbert will begin a business and Alice will be married. Complications ensue, with the chances of them reaching their destination less and less likely.
The Mortal Remains
An Englishman (Jonjo O’Neill), Irishman (Brendan Gleeson), Frenchman (Saul Rubinek), Lady (Tyne Daly) and Trapper (Chelcie Ross) travel to Fort Morgan. What appears to be a normal journey soon proves to be more, as the true intentions of some of the passengers are revealed.
I love the Coen Brothers. They do what they want, telling the stories that they want to tell, and they tell it in their own unique way.
Originally conceived as a TV series but edited into film format, I can’t help but wonder if it would have better been served as it was originally intended. There’s nothing exactly wrong with the film. Each segment has its own merits, presenting uniquely different stories with no connection to the previous. I do appreciate what they were trying to do, but some segments left me wanting more and some segments could have used some trimming. The lengths of each segment vary as well, which, had they been kept at a TV series length might not have been as noticeable.
My favorite segment was the opening with the eponymous Buster Scruggs, which had the wit and humor I greatly enjoy. The segments that follow do occasionally reach this level but tend to drag. Other standout segments include Tom Waits as a gold prospector and the final segment about the five travelers.
The cinematography by Bruno Delbonnel is exceptional, giving each segment a unique and crisp look. The acting is hard to judge, as each segment features new ones. Actors such as James Franco and Liam Neeson pop in and out so fast that they don’t really have time to leave an impact. However, Franco does get one of the funniest lines of the film.
Despite some unevenness, the film is littered with The Coen Brothers trademark wit and should satisfy their fans as well as fans of the Western genre.
B