Review of The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018) by Culldogindark — 27 Nov 2018

I must confess to being a Coen brothers fan from the outset. This movie may have flaws but it is storytelling at its best. The vignettes are superbly realised due to the stunning cinematography and the ensemble cast.

Death stalks the film being the silent witness as humans battle the natural environment and each other. Women are conspicuously silent as well with the exception of the braves but ultimately doomed girl on the Oregon Trail.

Characters are bewildered at the things they don't see coming. There are highlights include "The Girl who got rattled", "All Gold Canyon" and "Mortal Remains". There are nods and winks to iconic Westerns such as Stagecoach, Once upon a Time in the West, The Searchers to name but a few.

Are we to take lessons about contemporary society form this fine work? Yes. Death as an inevitable fate, uncertain times and hubris.

I loved the the execution of filmic techniques at the same time being disconcerted by the brothers' vision. Maybe the message is that we're all just passion' through.