Killers of the Flower Moon

It is strange to see how public perception changes. Five or so years ago, it seemed many were united against Martin Scorsese after he declared that Marvel movies weren't really art. But, now that we're in 2023 and the MCU is all but cooked, people have rightly jumped back on the Scorsese bandwagon to experience something only he and a few other filmmakers can provide.

Killers of the Flower Moon is a film based on the 2017 nonfiction book of the same name by David Grann. It follows the Osage Native American tribe, who were once the richest people on Earth per capita due to them discovering oil in Osage County, Oklahoma. Soon enough, however, the greedy and the lazy are more than happy to come into Osage County and try and take the wealth from the Osage, one way or another.

Much of this involves marriage, where a white man will marry an Osage woman in order to eventually gain her headrights (the rights to her oil money). There are also other, nastier methods to getting these riches as we quickly find out in the movie, but I won't head into any sort of spoilers here. I went in blind and I suggest anyone wanting to really experience the twists and turns this story takes does the same. It's not a feel-good movie by any means, and rarely does it give you the satisfaction you want, but that is human history. That is the story of greed, that pushes so many of us to do terrible things, and Scorsese weaves this theme tremendously throughout. Whether you leave heart-broken, angry, or just dejected, you can't help but connect with the narrative and get swept away into 1920s Oklahoma for a few hours.

While we're on the subject of hours I suppose now's a good time to talk runtime. Scorsese himself has said that if you can't be bothered to sit in a cinema for three hours then shame on you because most of us can binge Netflix for that length of time if not more. I will say that you certainly feel the three hours and twenty-six minutes of runtime in Killers of the Flower Moon, but largely this is by design, as we watch the story of Osage County from the discovery of oil to the conclusion of the killings. There are some points where the film feels like it's a bit too caught up in itself, but otherwise Killers of the Flower Moon more than justifies its length.

As always, the performances Scorsese brings out in his actors are nothing short of career bests for most of our leading men and women. Leonardo DiCaprio's work as Ernest Burkhart might be his best yet, and while he's going to get a lot of praise heading his way and he is our leading figure, Scorsese does an incredible job at ensuring this story isn't just about him. It's about Osage County, and for that to be true we need an insight into the Osage. Lily Gladstone as Mollie Burkhart is transcendent, providing the emotional core of the movie as a full-blooded member of the Osage. The only times I could feel myself checking out slightly was when she was absent for a good chunk of time. DiCaprio's character is fascinating and captivating, but he's neither relatable or likeable for the most part. Perhaps the biggest powerhouse was Robert De Niro's William "King" Hale. Despite being one of the most recognisable faces in film, De Niro completely transforms into something else in Killers of the Flower Moon.

I could go on and on about the stellar performances all day. Jesse Plemons again proves himself to be one of the most talented (and underrated, in my opinion) actors of our time, each of the actresses playing Gladstone's sisters manage to maximise their admittedly limited screen time with excellence. Strangely, Brendan Fraser felt a little hammy to me. He's not in the film much, but whether his character is meant to be overly pronounced or not, he could break the immersion at moments, coming across more as Brendan Fraser the actor than the character he's portraying.

Technically, with my limited knowledge of the technical aspects of film, Scorsese again scores a homerun. It's likely effortless for him to make such meaningful shots and draw you in with little tricks of the camera, but even if it is easy for the 80-year-old director, that doesn't make it any less impressive when you watch it on the big screen. The use of violence is raw and visceral. Gore is used somewhat sparingly, but when it is shown it maximises the shocking and grisly effects of the actions taken against the Osage. The effectiveness of the sound in Killers of the Flower Moon shouldn't be understated, either. The musical choices transport you into the 1920s, while the sound effects used when a killing does take place ensure that you'll be wincing in your seat.

In his later years, it appears Scorsese has become much more concerned with humanity within his movies. These long stories that follow entire lives like The Irishman and Killers of the Flower Moon portray the reflection on his own outstanding career, and yet they also stand alone as incredible movies. Behind the camera, there's no one quite like him and in front of it he has collected most of the very best in the business to make this story of greed, grief and in some ways love one of the most impactful cinematic experiences I've had in a long time. Go see this movie if and when you can, but know that you're likely to come out of it feeling hollow.