Killers of the Flower Moon

This weekend, Killers of the Flower Moon, the newest film by Martin Scorsese, releases in theaters. Killers of the Flower Moon centers around members of the Osage tribe in Oklahoma as they are mysteriously murdered in the 1920s. The movie features Ernest Burkhart, Mollie Burkhart, and William Hale and their roles in the conspiracy. Martin Scorsese is such a big name in Hollywood and always makes very prestigious films so naturally I was interested in what his next film was going to be.

You cannot really go wrong with a Martin Scorsese film, and this movie is no exception. It is a very sobering and heavy movie but still tells a very effective and interesting story. Due to its length, the movie can build and tell a very long story that allows every aspect to breathe and be fully developed. Due to having fewer limits on screen time, we get to see all of the characters become extremely fleshed. You really get to know them and get invested in their story. This movie features great performances from Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert DeNiro, and Lily Gladstone, all of whom will likely be nominated for action Oscars. All three of these actors give such layered performances where you really feel the emotion and motivations coming from their characters. Some of the characters may be terrible people but they are still performed to come across as extremely compelling. I also quite enjoyed the setting of the movie. The film was made in rural Oklahoma and you can really tell in the movie. All the sets and scenery look so authentic. I also liked the historical aspects of the film. We get to see the divide between the white Americans and the Native Americans as well as how the white settlers were trying to oppress the native people. I also just found it so interesting that this all actually happened. Finally, I thought the movie as a whole did a great job of invoking emotions. The movie creates this feeling of dread throughout the runtime as we see these characters continue to make terrible decisions but still get away with it. You also feel the emotion that Mollie goes through as she loses members of her family. It can be a tough movie to watch but is one that is still very well done.

While having an over 3-hour runtime can help the movie and allow the story to flesh out, I felt this movie was a bit too long. It clocks in at about 3 hours and 30 minutes which I think is just a bit excessive. Between the runtime and the heavy tone, it makes for a tough movie to get through. I think if it was a bit shorter, it would be a little easier to digest.

Overall, this is a very well-done movie that tells an effective story with strong emotions and layered characters. While it is very well made, its run time and heavy tone make it a bit off-putting to a lot of people. Regardless, I have no doubt that this movie will get nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, and likely multiple acting categories.

Score: 8.5/10 Grade: A- Recommendation: Go see it if you can handle the runtime and tone.