Rating: 4/5
“Killers of the Flower Moon,” released on Oct. 20, 2023, is the latest addition to the illustrious filmography of Martin Scorcese, considered by many as one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. The film’s emotional plot, inspired performances, and gritty storytelling will make this film be revered as one of Scorcese’s best.
This film focuses on the Osage Nation, a Native American tribe in Oklahoma that gained wealth in the 1920s due to the oil found under their land. Historically, the Osage retained the mineral rights to the land and received a quarterly share of the oil revenues from the United States government. These shares were so valuable that the Osage never worked again and, instead, hired white working-class individuals to work for them as chauffeurs and maids, thus racially integrating the community. The shares had also singled out the Osage as they became prime targets for financial embezzlement by white people hoping to make it rich.
In the opening act of the film, William King Hale (Robert De Niro), an influential community leader, requests his nephew Ernest Burkhart (Leonardo DiCaprio), to work with him on the Osage land. Hale then encourages Burkhart to pursue a relationship with Molly Kyle (Lily Gladstone), who is from a wealthy Osage family. Once Ernest and Molly are married, Molly’s family, which includes her mother and her sisters, and many other Osage all begin mysteriously dying and the tribe seems to suspect foul play. The Osage attempted to pursue legal action by seeking out the U.S. government, however, they were unsuccessful and were instead consistently ignored until the case became beneficial for the federal government.
In some ways, this film had the feeling of artistic journalism in that it seeks to educate audiences about the atrocities committed against a marginalized group and about the inaction of the U.S. government. This story has been swept under the rug and the release of this film achieved the mission of bringing it to the forefront of public consciousness.
This movie has garnered interest in the film community due to its star-studded cast, including Leonardo DiCaprio; Robert De Niro; Jesse Plemons; and the reigning winner of the Oscar for Best Lead Actor, Brendan Fraser. Although Dicaprio and De Niro both give masterful performances filled with nuance and skill, the standout performer is newcomer Lily Gladstone in the role of Molly Burkhart. Gladstone’s portrayal of raw emotion and internal conflict feels authentic, and I have never seen such a powerful performance in film before.
This film seemed like Scorcese’s attempt at displaying every artistic skill in his repertoire, as he perfected every aspect of the film. The film’s meticulous cinematography, creative scene positioning, and authentic set design all greatly contributed to the beautiful depiction of stress and pressure throughout the film. The score, crafted by frequent Scorcese collaborator Robbie Robertson, enhanced the power and emotion of every scene and sometimes was more vital to a scene than the dialogue itself. The best scenes were when the actors displayed deep emotion nonverbally in conjunction with the powerful, guitar-heavy, country-esque music.
However, there was one glaring issue that definitely knocked the film down slightly for me. Firstly, the story relies on the love between Ernest and Molly Burkhart, but it doesn’t delve deeper into their story at all. The emphasis on their strong bond and deeply rooted love is integral to the plot, so the film should have done a better job of explicitly showing the audience how this love came to be instead of the rushed 15 minutes of romance that it actually provided.
Despite this flaw, the film is a masterpiece, not only for all of its cinematic elements but also for its courageous and important purpose of making people aware of the untold and cruel history of oppressed people.