Killers of the Flower Moon
Starring: Lily Gladstone, Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Jesse Plemmons
Directed By: Martin Scorsese
Rated: R
Some mild spoilers ahead
Adapted from David Grann’s excellent novel, Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI, Killers of the Flower Moon is the haunting true story of the Osage murders in 1920’s Oklahoma.
After being forcibly moved to a reservation in Oklahoma, the Native American Osage tribe found their land rich in oil. People far and wide came knocking for the oil, making the Osage some of the richest individuals in the country. That money wasn’t the blessing it seemed. Despite their newfound wealth, strange sicknesses, mysteries shootings, and suicides were killing the tribe members one by one. At the center of the tragedy was Mollie (Lily Gladstone), an Osage woman impacted from every side. Her friends, neighbors, and closest family were torn apart by the murders. How did it all tie together and who was responsible?
From a filmmaking standpoint, Killers of the Flower Moon is a masterwork. Director Martin Scorsese may be 80-years-old but he is at the top of his game. He crafts Killers of the Flower Moon as a 3+ hour epic that is an indictment on depraved colonization and a devastatingly tragic ode to the Osage nation.
In the first frames of the film, the tribe members perform a ritual mourning their ways disappearing as white men take over. In the course of the next few hours, their fears become reality as they are replaced and hunted down.
Instead of following the novel’s mystery structure, Scorsese shows us the perpetrators in the first act. It’s even more upsetting seeing the murderers rationalize their twisted behavior as they live amongst the Osage tribe. The evil is on display for the entirety of the film, making it into more of a crime drama/character study.
Rodrigo Prieto’s cinematography is stunning. Prieto utilizes black and white imagery that invokes the silent film era of the 20s. When Native American ceremonies are performed, Prieto makes the screen light up with vibrant color and life. In the third act, as the Osage disappear, the color is practically drained out of the film to signify the loss and devastation. The life has been sucked out of the land. Rodrigo Prieto also did the cinematography for Barbie, so I’d say he’s having quite a year!
Lily Gladstone gives a phenomenal performance as Mollie. She is quiet, but commanding. There are sequences where her face conveys a range of powerful emotions (grief, anger, rage, and shock) without saying a single word. Mollie starts the film as an Osage woman with a stoic confidence. With her father gone, she is the caretaker of the family. As the film progresses, her spirit is worn and broken down. Gladstone portrays this in such a raw and devastating way. Mollie’s story is a knife through the heart. It’s difficult to fathom anyone dealing with so much trauma. Everything and everyone is taken from her and she experiences the ultimate betrayal. Gladstone’s performance shines a light on a woman who deserves to be remembered in history.
Here’s the thing, if Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese team up for a movie, then I will be seeing that movie. It will be a certified hit in my household. The Aviator is DiCaprio’s best performance and I stand by that to THIS DAY. I can show you all the blueprints on that too. In Killers of the Flower Moon, DiCaprio plays Ernest Burkhart, a WWI veteran coming to work for his uncle William Hale in Oklahoma and eventually marry Mollie. Ernest is not bright and ridiculously easy to manipulate. DiCaprio plays into Ernest’s dim-witted ways with an “aww shucks” Southern accent and constantly confused stare. That being said, Ernest knows so much more than his demeanor lets on. Greed gnaws away at him and it’s as if you can see it happening through his nasty rotting teeth. The film begs the question, did Ernest ever love Mollie or was it all a sham from the beginning? (The novel also ruminates on this subject.) It’s a difficult and truly disturbing relationship dynamic that plays out throughout the course of the film. He insists he does love her. Maybe he does to some strange degree, but he abuses her unwavering trust to serve his own sinister goals.
Have you ever left a movie and felt sheer rage at the villain? So much so that you want to start yelling at the screen? That’s how I feel about Robert De Niro’s character, William “King” Hale. Rarely have I ever hated anyone as much as I hate that man. He is evil in human form. De Niro certainly succeeds in making you despise this character. What’s so terrifying about Hale (and De Niro’s portrayal) is his seeming sincerity one moment that can turn on a dime. He speaks of the Osage as if they are objects at his disposal. His quest for money is what drives him and nothing will get in his way. This is honestly the most disturbing character portrayal I’ve seen in a very long time.
There is a huge ensemble in this film. Some of the major standouts include Takana Means, a Native American who comes to Osage County when the town desperately needs him. It’s a memorable performance to say the least. Jesse Plemmons is Tom White, an FBI agent who is on the hunt for the ringleader of the murders. He is also in possession of the world’s largest cowboy hat. The two tribal elders, Chief Bonnicastle and Paul Red Eagle (Yancey Redcorn and Everett Walker) bring a gravitas to their scenes that feels deeply important. Tantoo Cardinal barely speaks as Mollie’s mother, Lizzie Q, but she has a huge presence. She has an emotionally pivotal scene that reflects a moment of peace amongst utter devastation. It’s one of the most beautiful moments in the film.
When I first read this novel a few years ago, I was haunted by it. How could something like this have happened? I told friends and family members about the book and none of them had ever heard about the murders. This was a historical tragedy, yet it had been buried by time and silence.
The final sequence of Killers of the Flower Moon is a deeply thought provoking statement by Martin Scorsese that has left me thinking since I left the theater. Led by exceptional direction and fantastic performances, Killers of the Flower Moon recounts a devastating chapter of history in one of the year’s best and most significant films.
My Rating: 10/10