One fan said the film is “unlike any other western movie you’ve ever heard of”.

A Western directed by the Coen brothers hailed by fans as “simply perfect” is streaming now in the UK. The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018) is an anthology Western comprised of six stories featuring starkly contrasting themes and characters, exploring the highs and crushing lows of life in the Old West.

It was written, directed, produced, and edited by Joel and Ethan Coen, the duo best known for modern classics like The Big Lebowski and No Country for Old Men, the movie features a rich range of characters all trying to get by in the unforgiving environment of the American Frontier. O Brother, Where Art Thou? star Tim Blake Nelson plays the titular singing cowboy, Buster, but the film features another of other famous faces, including Brendan Gleeson, Liam Neeson, James Franco, and gravelly-voiced singer songwriter Tom Waits.

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs

The acclaimed Old West epic was directed by the Cohen brothers. (Image: Netflix)

One Audience Reviewer on Rotten Tomatoes said the film is an “uncompromising collection of stories of hardship, loss, and betrayal in the old west”, describing it as: “Simply perfect.”

Another said of the Western: “A singing outlaw, an unlucky robber and an aging prospector are some of the stories in this American anthology of violence, danger and excitement.

“With a stellar cast portraying each of their characters with gusto, this is unlike any other western movie you’ve ever heard of!”

A third said the movie is well acted and “incredibly written”, adding that “each story will hold your attention throughout the entire film”.

THE BALLAD OF BUSTER SCRUGGS
Tim Blake Nelson as Buster (Image: Netflix)

“I didn’t know what to make of the opening, but Buster Scruggs sucked me in with his wit and hilarious dialogue. The next episodes are more sombre and just as intriguing. Well worth watching.”

A fourth said they had avoided watching it for years “because the trailer looked so bad”. “I broke down and watched it recently, and it was excellent. The photography was wonderful, the stories offbeat and humorous at times, and the acting was excellent all around.”

The film is “Certified Fresh” on Rotten Tomatoes, and has a 89% score on the site’s Tomatometer (reflecting the percentage of Approved Tomatometer Critics who have given it a positive review). The movie also has a respectable 78% score among general audiences.

The film has a rating 15, and contains strong bloody violence, so viewer discretion is advised.

The Ballad of Buster Scuggs is streaming now on Netflix.