The Ballad of Buster Scruggs

An interesting and appealing six-part Western anthology from the Coens, each segment in its own way ruminating on life, death, existence, everything. Some parts work better than others, or perhaps some are just more immediately enjoyable. A great cast delivers a great script, and it's elevated with some fine camerawork. Tom Waits needs to be in more films. Might not be for everyone, but there is plenty to like here, especially for Coen fans.

Each vignette offered something worthwhile but I still wish there was a full movie about Scruggs. The premise of the clean-cut sing-song Hollywood cowboy stepping into a Spaghetti Western and gunning down the grimy black hats is perfect and the Coens are masters at writing that 'sophisticate yokel' protagonist. I reckon all them wordy passages get me fixin' to engage in a bout of my own philosophizin' concerning the greater mysteries of our shared experience and what lies beyond our *gets shot*

I actually ended up loving this. Tom Waits has always fascinated me so his story had my attention. I particularly loved the last two stories, and the first one was quite entertaining. The strange stories and (mostly) unordinary characters have the Coen brothers written all over them. I also thought the directing and cinematography were beautiful. This really is just the Coen brothers doing what they do best. It may only be for their fans, but this is a cool change of pace. (5, 6, 4, 1, 2, 3)

I suppose it takes the Coens to reference Sartre, Kafka and Roy Rogers in the same movie and not only make it work, but do it so naturally that they hardly seem to have to work at it at all. Sure, the segments are a slightly mixed bag and it's hard to imagine any one of them holding up for 2 hours, but thats how the format works and as an Abbey Road medley it works a treat. Plus I'll watch Tom Waits in anything.

Few artists working today can get close to the ludicrously deep level of phenomenological discourse that the Coens keep achieving. The NC Wyeth-inspired illustrations beginning each chapter stoke their own imaginative fire, and so do our expectations of place and time and genre (who else has noticed the Coens haven't had a modern-day setting in a decade?). They may be asking what the point of everything is at the moment we approach death. They may just be having fun. Both are equally valid.

This bizarre collection of western stories ranging from musical and silly to just to darn serious offers a lot to enjoy. I legitimately liked all 6 stories (although I'd say the first was the weakest and the gold prospector was my favorite). But it may not be a film I go back to often like other Coen Bros films because it doesn't offer one thing, a dildo chair. Burn After Reading was grest.

The Coens have pushed their serio-comic sensibility to its limits, not veering between absurdity and pathos so much as thoroughly blurring the line between the two such that they're inextricably intertwined. Most of the stories are great - and those that aren't, enjoyable still - but it feels like even more than the sum of its parts: a loving homage to the western genre, sure, but also a consideration of death in its multifaceted forms and a celebration of that which makes it worth confronting.

The Coens have always had a special touch, but putting their writing into an anthology movie seems to limit their ability to really shine. Some of the segments are awesome, some come off uninspired, and most of them felt underdeveloped. Yet the whole is still a perfectly entertaining movie, with a few decent chuckles.

Always tough to rate something like this where the different segments vary so wildly in pretty much all aspects. Personal favorite was the gold prospector, but the rattled woman was a close second. Funny thing about this is that everybody I've talked to seems to have completely different views on ranking the segments.

I won't lie, I had a pretty good time with Buster Scruggs. There were definitely some shorts better than others (I personally loved 1, 4, and 5), but they come together to form an interesting collection of Westerns. The cast really shines with Tom Waits hitting it out of the park, but the real star is in the writing. At times the stories can get tedious or boring (see Meal Ticket), but for most of the time its just ridiculous Coen Brothers fun.

A rootin tootin good time! *scalds Gene Shalit in six various different interesting ways where some are better than others but none of them disappoint*

Not exactly a movie, but a collection of western themed shorts, the first of which has to do with Buster Scruggs. The characters are unique and the stories range from unusual to somewhat less so. It was different and at times a little strange. I was just so intrigued to see what next wacky thing would happen. Worth watching, but some of the shorts will leave you wondering.

Thoroughly enjoyable Western anthology. The first segment turned me off a little (so much singing), but every other story was solid entertainment featuring the Coen Brothers typically excellent characters, sharp dialog and dark humor. Tom Waits absolutely needs to be in more films, his segment and the Oregon Trail one were my favorites by far.

Amusing enough.

Six pitch-perfectly detailed stories about the futility of hopes and dreams, but also of deceit and vanity, of culture even. Because the black rider will not stop; not for the best or for the worst, not for any sentimentality. Though maybe not all is futile; small victories may be gained, even amidst the cynicism. And a ballad be sung.

the first part is by far the best, combining Coens death pan and dark humor in which they play perfectly with the contrast between a 1950s flamboyant type cowboy and the more grittier Westerns of later decades . I was laughing my ass off. Unfortunately none of the segments after that could deliver on the promise set by that. Some of the segments still were also very good (part 2, 4), some good (5 and 6) and one (part 3) just plain boring.

Apart from a plethora of good shit I could say about the movie itself, I'm loving how different everybody's picks for favorite episode are. Initially I loved 1, 4 and 6 and felt a bit let down by the rest of it, but the whole thing has grown on me since. Netflix, if you ever pull this from your site, I swear to God, I'll... I'll... well, I'll just have to watch Beverly Hills Cop again, won't I? ("What is it pertayening?" - Still gold)

I really enjoyed this great looking, dark humorous, genre-loving anthology, and of course appreciate anything with Tom Waits in it.

A witty Coen charm with each tale. It must have been fun to create something that contains more/less westernized, philosophical views on life. They give us beautiful pictures that are worth another visit.

The shorts are hit-or-miss but they're all shot beautifully.

The Coen's cover great ground with the format. Tons of wicked stuff here with wildly varying levels of accessibility. Its a heavy package, but one that is so full of charisma and mastery it feels undeniable.

With one or two possible exceptions, I don't think any of the segments qualify as top-tier Coen. However, I do predict that I will be itching to rewatch some of them. Ranked from best to least good: 6, 5, 1, 2, 4, 3

It had its moments was not the Coen's best showing. Honestly the really outdated portrayal of Native Americans did not help things.

First rate anthology film is perhaps the warmest and most instantly likable Coen film to date - they unexpectedly wear their hearts on their sleeves presenting a series of fables of wildly different tones (though it gets more consistently grim as it proceeds), all based around a consideration (and fear) of death and decay. Arguably never gets better than Nelson's hilarious opener as Roy Rogers taking on Sergio Leone, but the Waits, Kazan and Rubinek/Daly/Gleeson segments are terrific as well.

Funny, charming and weird. Some of the stories are wonderful, others a bit annoying. Overall, more coherent than other full-length films that have to manage just one story. Just a genuinely nice experience.

This is a lot of fun. The first short is, perhaps, the funniest the Coens have ever been. None of the shorts overstay their welcome, and the weakest ones are the shortest.

The discomforting and racist villainous portrayal of "Indians" should've been thrown away but the rest of the classic Western potpourri here provide lots of cozy charm (love those songs sprinkled throughout) and frigid chills amidst what is a uniquely curated collection of stories (some delightfully bizarre like the titular tale with its compelling narration and amazing climactic duet; others a bit more plodding and unremarkable) about death and judgment and the diehard American dream.

1 and 2 were great from front to back. 3 was a complete drag. 4 was quite good but Waits was awesome. 5 dragged some too but also had some fantastic parts and a fantastic ending. 6 had its moments, mostly at the end. As a whole it's an incredibly shot Western anthology, really bringing the environment to life, but it does have its weak moments that made it hard to watch. Sometimes it explored its themes effectively and other times it got lost in the tedium.

There's no weak link in the Ballad of Buster Scruggs. Everyone seems to have their own personal favorite segment and there's enough variety to the tone and substance of each segment that there is sure to be something here for everyone. The somber Meal Ticket segment seems destined to clash both stylistically and tonally with the whimsical titular Ballad of Buster Scruggs segment, but under the deft direction of the Coen Brothers, everything meshes perfectly.

Mix of various Coen flavors© (kooky comedy, blackest tragedy & bloody violence) ? Laughed, smiled, tensed 4 horrors I saw coming, gasped @ shocks didnt || Wonderfully made & superbly ?? as always || ??d Waits & his Prospector part: sumptuous shots & scenery || ??As anthology of 6 tales (short time 2 care 4 each lead) + less comedic parts ? slight distancing 4 me ? admired more than loved. Not in MY Top 3 Coens but truly impressive? QUALITY ±5? Wor