I quote from J. Lasserre's article «Révolution et non-violence»: (Cahiers de la réconciliation, Paris, 1967, pp. 34 - 36) «We do not believe that peace can come out of violence, that justice can issue from generalized criminality, that respect for man can emerge from contemptuousness. (religion-online.org)
The frequent contemptuousness the film displays toward its characters keeps the audience at arm's length. (metacritic.com)
The film's supporting characters — drunks, loudmouths, fast - talkers, double - crossers — are typically annoying Coen creations though none seem particularly suffocated by the brothers» signature contemptuousness. (slantmagazine.com)