Wow!!!
That’s how I
felt when I got to the end of this film. This American western anthology film
is written, directed, and produced by the Coen brothers. They felt it best to
have Netflix finance their movie, as no other studio dared to take on their
unique project.
To be candid,
this is a masterpiece of a movie. The storytelling is engaging at every turn,
and the brothers love to keep the suspense going, with each tale ending in a
way you could never have imagined.
Add to that the
music included in some of the stories—especially the first one—which is just
magical and entertaining.
The movie is a
collection of six short western stories. It starts with a view of an old book
titled The Ballad of Buster Scruggs and Other Tales of the American
Frontier. Each story kicks off with a picture of a scene from the tale. A hand
then appears to turn the page, revealing the story, and we’re transported into
its world.
Now, Buster
Scruggs’ story is just the first. His tale is about him going around singing
and killing anyone who isn’t friendly. His story has an ending you’ll find very
amusing.
Next, we witness
a bank robber who picked the wrong bank to rob. He goes in expecting to leave
with all the money, but the cashier has more than a few screws loose. He stops
the robber, who is then sentenced to be hanged. The hanging doesn’t go as
planned, and neither does anything that follows. The tale comes full circle for
our bank robber.
The third tale
is titled Meal Ticket, which perfectly describes it. A traveler goes
around with a performer who has no arms or legs. The performer’s gift is his
ability to recite Shakespeare and other literary works. Their tale is one I’ll
leave for you to see.
The fourth tale
was somehow my second favorite, right after Buster Scruggs’. Here, we see a man
digging for gold, determined in his pursuit. It’s how his tale ends that makes
this story so cool.
The fifth tale
ties for second place with the fourth for me—I can’t seem to separate the two.
This is a tragic story about a woman who lost her brother and is struggling to
get by on her travels. A man takes her under his wing to care for her.
The last tale is
my third favorite. It takes place in a stagecoach where five passengers discuss
life and their views on it. It also features some beautiful songs.
So, the first
tale takes the top spot—very entertaining. The fourth and fifth tales tie for
second place. The sixth tale comes in fourth, the second tale is fifth, and I
didn’t fancy Meal Ticket much at all.
Go see this movie on Netflix—you’ll be glad you did.
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