Martin Scorsese’s latest epic crime drama is an effortless approach of telling the story of the Osage people. This may sound like I’m somewhat bashing the way it was written, but I assure you I’m praising that it’s not a whodunnit with ridiculous twists and turns. Thanks to Martin Scorsese’s collaboration with the Osage people, it maintains a respectful yet captivating narrative preserving the deep historical significance. Marty has created a film about a lost piece of American history that will not be forgotten ever again.
In 1920s Oklahoma, the Osage Nation find that they’re living on top of some of that good old black gold, making them some of the richest people on Earth. And as you can imagine with it being colonised America, this only means one thing: kill them off one-by-one until their pockets are lined with that sweet, sweet oil money.
Considering the runtime is around 3 hours and 30 minutes, there wasn’t a single dull moment. If you have a weak bladder, I’d go before the film starts rather than gambling for a quiet moment because you’ll struggle to find the perfect moment. There’s always something to admire, from the astonishing cinematography by Barbie’s Rodrigo Prieto (though he has worked with Scorsese since The Wolf of Wall Street, mentioning Barbie first makes me happy), the magnificent score by Robbie Robertson, and the phenomenal acting.
Leonardo DiCaprio just proves he’s the GOAT in everything he’s in, and he doesn’t even need to prove anything anymore. To simply put it into words, he’s superb in his role as a naive man-child with a brain like a sponge.
Over the last decade or so, Robert DeNiro has often been absent from memorable roles. Having said that, in Killers of the Flower Moon he reminds us all that he’s still at the top of his game in the art of acting. He plays the most convincing two-faced vulture from start to finish without failure.
When I first heard the casting, my initial thought was, “who the heck is Lily Gladstone?” And oh boy, did I find out very quickly who she was. From the moment she first appears on screen to the last frame she’s in, you’re drawn in to her impeccable acting. Her character goes through love and pain and everything in between. Enough for an Oscar? I believe she’s set the bar very very high for Hollywood this year. I can’t wait to see what she’s in next.
Fun Fact: Lily Gladstone had been considering a career change prior to ‘Killers of the Flower Moon.’ She was in the process of registering for a data analytics course, when a email notification alerted her to a request for a meeting with Martin Scorsese. Scorsese promises an unforgettable experience, with a unique epilogue destined for film class discussions until the end of time.
Scorsese promises an unforgettable experience, with a unique epilogue destined for film class discussions until the end of time. A film you should definitely check out on the big screen before it’s released on Apple TV Plus and loses all meaning.