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Tim Blake Nelson is extremely hip.
They were probably always on television everywhere in the country, but in particular [laughs] in Oklahoma.
I constantly watched the Sergio Leone Westerns whenever they were on television.
Those are a very different kind of Western fromBuster Scruggs.
I understand that the Coens wrote this 25 years ago, and you were sent the screenplay in 2002.
What was the conversation between then and now?Occasionally, Joel would mention it.
He would say, Someday, were gonna do thatBuster Scruggs, so be ready.
The change in the way films are displayed now actually ended up helping them.
That one had also been written.
They said, Yeah, weve gotta write these other ones.
So I just put it away.
And Ethan said, Doesnt really talk much?
The guy doesnt shut up!
Have you kept playing it since then?Alittlebit.
I would say that I should play more, because its a skill I want to hold onto.
We started shooting in June, and I started preparing for this role in January.
Guitar lessons and the pistol stuff that was also tough to learn.
Tough, but in a good way.
So you might control a horse with your legs if youre really, really good, and Im not.
Im an okay rider, Im not a great rider.
Grainger [Hines], in the movie, hes a great rider.
It was just second nature.
That took a lot.
Do you play any other instruments?
You played the organ inMinority Reportas well.No, not really.
I took piano lessons as a kid, but I wasnt very good.
He taught me to play the guitar for the film, he was my teacher.
I did a musical onstage a long time ago Mac WellmansDracula.
I played Jonathan Harker, and I sang in that.
That was really fun.
But you wouldnt want to put me in a musical that wasnt a rock musical or a country musical.
Im not going to be able to perform Sondheim, that would just be horrible.
Have you ever tried?I auditioned forAssassins!
When it was at Playwrights?Yeah.
Can I ask what part you were going for?I just went in and sang a song.
Are you generally a fan of musicals, though?I am.
I love musicals, and particularly Sondheim.
I think, because of streaming platforms, more movies are now getting made, so thats good.
Sound is treated, now, in a different way.
Editing is treated, now, in a different way.
You actually hear that.
Or, Why are you caring about that thing over there in the background?
Nobodys going to see it on their iPhone.
And thats just bound to change what gets attention on a movie set.
They dont shoot complete masters.
There was not one complete master onBuster Scruggs, in my section.
Its not there, and theyre not going to have the shots.
To think of it in musical terms, everything is notated in that regard.
Theres no room for improvisation later in the editing room, or theres little room for that.
I marveled at it.
I think the results speak for themselves.
That they do that without full masters is breathtaking.
That is the work of preternatural filmmakers.
In an AV Club interview, you were talking about your role inThe Incredible Hulk.
Yeah, the Leader.
I would love to do it, so well see.
Are you much of a comics person?To a degree.
You know, Im about to go doWatchmen.
I really didnt get it.
But I found it really difficult when first readingWatchmenjust to find my way in.
I just wasnt inured to the way that medium tells stories.
It took me a while.
But then once I got in, I was really engaged.
I found it very smart.
I guess comics are somewhat new to me.
You have to find it there.
And the clashing philosophies of the different characters, that was my way in.
So I assume that you hadnt really read that many comics prior to Watchmen.I really hadnt.
I hadnt readHulk, either.
Edward [Norton] was a big Hulk fan.
But no, I wasnt so familiar with it.
My parents didnt encourage that.
We could readDoonesbury, we were allowed to readDoonesbury.
I had a really good upbringing, but it was regimented.
That was outside of school.
Any chance youd do a romantic comedy again?
It really depends on somebody having that sensibility, to put me in a romantic lead.
Finn Taylor is just that sort of director.
So, sure, but I really do like playing the supporting roles.
I like playing the oddballs.
And I actually like being the guy standing next to the guy.
I mean, I think youve kind of turned into the guy as well.
People know who you are.Thats another great bit of advice I got from Lois Smith a long time ago.
This was very early in my career, way beforeO, Brother.
She said, Tim, no.
Thats what you want to think about.
You want to think about your whole life doing this, not about a single moment.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
