Killers of the Flower Moon
Killers of the Flower Moon
Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Lily Gladstone, Jesse Plemons
Directed by Martin Scorsese
In the early 1900s the Osage nation was pushed out of their land and settled in Oklahoma, only to discover the land they moved to was filled with oil, making them the most wealthy people per capita during the time. The law required white guardians to manage their wealth, and the elders feared that their way of life will be corrupted by the intermarriage between their people and the white people moving in to take advantage of their wealth.
William King Hale (Robert De Niro), a prominent businessman and supposed ally to the Osage people, secretly desires their wealth for himself. He enlists his two sons - including dim-witted Ernest (Leonardo DiCaprio) - to marry into the Osage people so they can gain their land once they're dead. Ernest meets Mollie (Lily Gladstone) and legitimately falls in love with her, and the two wed and start a family. Meanwhile her other family members end up murdered along with numerous other Osage people, but it seems no one cares. King encourages Ernest to drug Mollie with her diabetic medicine to slow her down, as he plots to take over her entire estate once she's dead, and Ernest - despite loving his wife - does as he's told. Not long after BOI agent Tom White (Jesse Plemons) arrives in town to investigate the murders on behalf of the government, leading King and Ernest to up their campaign and try to silence anyone who could link them to the murders they've been committing in town.
The Good:
Scorsese is at the top of his game here, delivering another impeccable film that's beautiful from start to finish, flourishing in cinematography, lavishly accompanying scenes with haunting music, and supplying the audience with two legendary actors and one up-and-coming actress who somehow manages to steal the show. All of this is wrapped in the intriguing and downright horrifying events of what happened to the Osage people in Oklahoma - proud people who were brutally gunned down for the oil they possessed. It's not something that's mentioned often, but it's a story that needs to be told about the sheer disrespect of the Native Americans who were here long before we arrived.
Scorsese brought in his A-list team - his longtime collaborators - to bring this story to life, a tale that's deeply personal to the director and who wanted to do it the justice it deserved. Rodrigo Prieto's cinematography is boundless as the camera captures the beautiful land of the Osage Nation as well as providing intimate, grounded looks inside the surprisingly quaint homes of its people. The close-ups on the actors showcase their talent even when they're not saying a word, especially Lily Gladstone's Mollie, who transcends all the emotions that a film can portray.
Robbie Robertson (who passed away not long after finishing production) gave a resoundingly intimate resounding score that hides itself within the confines of the film, yet elevates itself in how it supports the visuals occurring on screen, mixing traditional Osage beats into the story that gives them deeper meaning. Thelma Schoonmaker had the most daunting task in editing the film to its three and a half hour runtime, and does so in a way that never makes it feel boring or unnecessary, but provides every personal moment, every sideways glance, every slow-paced walk with a purpose.
The film was highlighted in its previews in the fact that it's the first time three titans of cinema - DiCaprio, De Niro, and Scorsese - have come together for a film (although both actors have worked independently with Scorsese in numerous projects, and the two acted alongside one another in "This Boy's Life"), and both Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro provide Oscar-worthy performances. De Niro as the cold, ruthless, calculating William King Hale doesn't fall into the caricature that he could've been, butt envelops all his miscreant misgivings with a charm that's disarming and downright disturbing. He's your lovable uncle who's slowly poisoning you with a smile.
Likewise Leonardo DiCaprio is just as cold as his uncle, even if he doesn't have the mental facilities to really comprehend what he's doing - or so he says. He clearly loves Mollie, but has no qualms with slowly poisoning her diabetes medication. He participates in numerous murders (including those of her own family) and does so with this strange innocence that really exemplifies DiCaprio's talent. At first when they said it was the best performance of his career, I had to disagree, but after thinking about how nuanced he had to maintain his performance, how he had to balance being the loving husband and wolf in sheep's clothing, I'm more inclined to think that his performance here ranks among some of his best.
Yet, surprisingly, the standout performance isn't from either of these Oscar-winning actors, but rather a woman who almost gave up on acting. At the height of COVID-19, she hit a dry spell in acting and was about to apply for a data analytics course when she got an email asking for a Zoom meeting with Scorsese, who hired her on the spot. It's no surprise why Scorsese cast her, as she imbued Mollie with a sense of strong resolve and fortitude that showcases not just in her determined voice but her strong demeanor as well. Close-ups of her glaring at the white men who could've killed her family would send shivers through your soul. Her profound weeping over her numerous family members being killed unceremoniously is gut-wrenching. Seeing her trusting Ernest makes you scream at the screen not to trust him, because she becomes the heart and soul of the movie, and the one you root for the most. Gladstone will undoubtedly be honored for her worthy performance, and more than anything it's her role that's well worth the price of admission.
The Bad:
A lot has been said about Scorsese's films and their length, and "Killers of the Flower Moon" is one of his longest (it's three minutes shorter than his 2019 film "The Irishman"). Running at 206 minutes, it's no easy task to sit through if you're not in the mood for such a film, but if you are, you won't feel like that long has passed.
The Summary:
In telling the shocking true story of the murders of the Osage people for their oil, Martin Scorsese's "Killers of the Flower Moon" is more than just a biopic but a cinematic experience, providing lavish cinematography, top-notch performances, and a story that'll linger with you long after the credits roll.
The Score: A+
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