Review of The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018) by Krumpstead — 16 Nov 2018

Much like this film, watching the Coen Brothers movies has been a roller coaster of emotion throughout the years. Some of them are my all-time favorites and others I could barely finish. That isn't a failure on their part. It speaks to their ability to create art that can be enjoyed by a diverse group of people, and this movie will speak to each of those groups in different ways.

This film is truly their opus magnum. It has the absurd, awkward and dark comedy that their fans love, but also the deeply dramatic elements. You will go from seeing ridiculously funny and upbeat segments to some of the most depressing things ever filmed. It runs the gamut of every thematic element they have covered in their wide library of films and ties it together in one piece. If I had to guess what audience reactions will be, I would say they will probably focus on the brutally dark elements rather than enjoying the piece as a whole. It's unfortunate if that occurs because this film will walk you through every human emotion masterfully and because of that I feel it transcends simple entertainment. It will leave you evaluating what you just experienced and in the end this is what every filmmaker hopes to accomplish.