Killer of the Flower Moon

Martin Scorsese (co-written with Eric Roth) tells the true story of the 1920’s killings of the oil rich Osage Nation People in Oklahoma. Ernest Buckhart (Leonardo DiCaprio) returns from war to his uncle’s (Robert De Nero), William Hale, ranch to find opportunity. He starts as a driver where he meets Molly (Lily Gladstone), one of the Osage Nations wealthy. Their realtionship grows and they marry, but they marry against an increasing amount of un-investigated and unexplained deaths of the Osage. The Osage realise that their wealth has brought with it external greed, and an already wealthy class who want more and will kill to get it.

This is a long film at 3h26m. But, if a story is worth telling, and is done well it can justify a lengthy run time. Killers of the Flower Moon does that in spades and is a great bit of compelling storytelling. It engages from the start and never drags.

It’s a story that Scorsese knows how to tell. Power, corruption, greed and the willingness to do what it takes to gain and keep it. De Nero is magnificent as Hale. It’s a performance full of menace, under a thin veneer of respectably. DiCaprio matches him as his nephew, never quite as smart as he thinks, but portrays some semblance of conscience as he does his uncle’s bidding. Both revolve around Lily Gladstone’s portrayal of Molly, who offers a stoic charm in the face of what is been done to her people, and you feel every bit of her pain and desperation.

There isn’t a false step from the cast especially its native cast who always portray calm dignity. But Scorsese also shows the issues and traps the money brought.

If there is a criticism the final 30 minutes didn’t quite work fully for me including a final scene that took me a little out of the story.

Killers of the Flower Moon is an ambitious piece of storytelling. But is totally absorbing for its entire runtime. Built on three fabulous performances from De Nero, DiCaprio and Lily Gladstone. It’s a dark and horrifying story brought to life brilliantly. So settle down because it’s worth every one of its 206 minutes.