The Coen Brothers in 2021

[The Collector FX]

I remember reading a couple months ago that Ethan Coen "doesn't want to make movies anymore", thus announcing his unofficial retirement. His brothers future in regards to the film industry is uncertain.

However, it didn't dawn on me until yesterday that this would make Ballad of Buster Scruggs, a Netflix film that never released in theaters and will (probably) never see a home video release, to be their last official film. And quite honestly...

I expected...more.

While I'm sure it wasn't premeditated that they'd split, so an official "last film" they'd work on together was never in the back of their minds - it regardless feels distasteful and polarizing to realize that one of the most prolific, if not THE most prolific directing duo of our time would end their career on a f***ing Netflix movie. (If you can even call it that, Ballad of Buster Scruggs isn't even about Buster Scruggs, only the opening act of the film is and the rest is a mishmash of unrelated Western themed short stories)

34 years of work, ranging from Raising Arizona, Fargo, O Brother Where Art Thou and No Country For Old Men - only for them to have nothing to show for a grand exit except a Netflix film that's paywalled behind a subscription fee for the Walmart of streaming services.

I ask myself; is that REALLY how they wanna end their collaborative directing legacy?

What an underwhelming and undesirable turn of events...

[Lee A Stewart]

How many times have actors and directors said they are retiring and then change their mind?

[Cremildo]

Are we still this prejudiced about streaming movies? Ballad of Buster Scruggs was a movie, period, and a damn good one.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by Cremildo

Are we still this prejudiced about streaming movies? Ballad of Buster Scruggs was a movie, period, and a damn good one.

Exactly. It's very highly regarded. Some consider it their favorite Coen Brothers film even. It being on a streaming platform changes nothing about it.

[AFFanAttic]

I'm really amused by this idea of someone disappointed with The Ballad of Buster Scruggs because most of the movie wasn't actually about a guy named Buster Scruggs.

It's a great movie. Still not out of the question that Criterion could release it someday, as it's certainly deserving of that.
And I'm envious of the like 50 people in New York and LA who saw it in the theater. If it had released like maybe even six months later, Netflix was probably more sold on expanded theatrical runs by that point.

[50strat54]

Many great Directors, Actors and Musicians end their careers on a bad film or bad album.

It's the entire Legacy that matters.

[scarletlion]

Who cares what their last film will be? Their legacy will remain, and their filmography is amongst the best in modern film history.

[The Sovereign]

Way too soon for epitaphs.

[s2mikey]

Originally Posted by 50strat54

Many great Directors, Actors and Musicians end their careers on a bad film or bad album.

It's the entire Legacy that matters.

True - you also only need one or two solid hits to really carve out a name for yourself. Quantity does NOT equal better or indicate a career was better. This goes for actors or actresses too. Look at Bill Shatner or Mark Hamil: They essentially made a fabulous career out of one key role. Not fifty roles like some people.

I really enjoyed a few of the Coen Bros films and feel they had a fine career. No issues.

[Gacivory]

What a stupid thread.

Super excited to see what Joel does with Macbeth.

[slumcat]

This is just a rumor or speculation.

This is not real news.

[RCRochester]

I thought this was an actual announcement and not some clown post. Buster Scruggs is a brilliant film, much better than many of their films since the turn of the century, and would be a fitting final film if that’s what it turned out to be.

[imsounoriginal]

If they really are done as a unit, talk about a hell of a run and a great one to go out on.

[Member-244966]

Assuming it's true that Ethan no longer wants to make films, he's not obligated in any way to "go out on a high" - something that is subjective anyway, and I haven't seen it but most reactions I've seen towards Buster Scruggs have been glowing - He can throw in the towel whenever he likes. He doesn't owe it to anyone to achieve something before he retires.

[Jaymole]

I closed my work career on a high....which is why I got fired.

[Gacivory]

Originally Posted by imsounoriginal

If they really are done as a unit, talk about a hell of a run and a great one to go out on.

It was just said that Ethan isn't interested in doing movies for now. He is working on plays. It sounds like Macbeth has also been something Joel has been wanting to do for awhile. So it makes sense that they take some time apart. They had been doing this together for 40 years.

[HipsterTrash]

Ethan will be back. He just wanted to make plays for some time as Joel wanted to keep in the film world. Ironically, the next film looks very much like a stage play, so I wouldn't expect less from them.

But he'll be back. Just wait. Let the creativity flow naturally and how they want.

[An4h0ny]

I just want to say.... I agree with everything you said The Collector FX and feel exactly the same way.

Part of it is just times changing. It's kind of the natural order of things to just fade slowly to black. But it still feels like a loss. Directors of this magnitude fading away with a whimper does just FEEL wrong.

[The Collector FX]

Originally Posted by Cremildo

Are we still this prejudiced about streaming movies? Ballad of Buster Scruggs was a movie, period, and a damn good one.

Don't get me wrong; I liked Ballad of Buster Scruggs too - albeit in the bits and pieces that were good, but a couple of the short stories were honestly better to be scrapped to give the truly exceptionally short stories more screen time. The opening segment with Scruggs, the Franco "Pan Shot!" segment and the grieving widow/pioneer caravans segment were very good. The others shouldn't have made it past the chopping block...

But the quality of my movie wasn't the point of my post.

Also, the headline for this thread was changed so now anyone who clicks on this thread is going to feel a little mislead. I wish the Moderators wouldn't of changed it considering the context of what I wrote in the thread versus what the headline reads...

[bubbamoo]

Im a big fan of buster scruggs. For now, they have ridden off into the sunset but hope they mosey on back at some point.