It is no secret that the Native American people have had a long and tumultuous history with the white man. Originally welcomed, the white man would eventually swindle and persecute the Native Americans, forcing them from their lands. Like many tribes, the Osage Nation was among those uprooted from the Ohio and Mississippi River Valleys to Kansas and, after some time, ended up in "Indian Territory", known today as Oklahoma. They were relatively left alone until oil was discovered on their lands and overnight they became the richest people globally. Based on the 2017 David Grann (The Lost City of Z) novel, Killers of the Flower Moon depicts the true story of multiple Osage Nation members' murders between 1921 and 1926.
Mollie Kyle (Lily Gladstone; Billions) was an unmarried, full-blooded Native American of the Osage Nation when she met Ernest Burkhart (Leonardo DiCaprio; Titanic), the nephew of cattle rancher William Hale (Robert De Niro; Cape Fear). Hale had always outwardly supported the members of the Osage Nation while secretly plotting to obtain headlights to Osage lands and oil/mineral deposits through nefarious means. When he encourages Ernest to marry Mollie, He is one step closer to becoming rich until the federal government descends on Fairfax, Oklahoma determined to solve multiple deaths of wealthy Native Americans, including most of Mollie's immediate family.
While this film marks the eleventh collaboration between De Niro and Scorsese, the sixth collaboration between Di Caprio and Scorsese, and the third collaboration between De Niro and Di Caprio, it is the first time the three men have ever worked together on a project. Based on the result it would behoove them to consider working all together again in the future. De Niro and Di Caprio are at the top of their game in this film and Scorsese is a magnificent storyteller who weaves a beautiful tale. Joining these gentlemen is Gladstone, who goes toe to toe with Di Caprio and De Niro and holds her own. Supporting cast members Jesse Plemons (The Power of the Dog), John Lithgow (Cliffhanger), and Brendan Fraser (The Mummy) also leave their mark on the film despite their limited screen time.
At a three hour and thirty minute run time, Scorsese falls into the same trap as other renowned directors such as James Cameron (Avatar: The Way of Water) and Stanley Kubrick (The Shining), who don't seem to understand the concept of "sometimes less is more". While there have been movies with over three-hour runtimes, case in point this past summer's Oppenheimer, and they deserve their lengthy durations, Killers of the Flower Moon is not one of them. The first hour and a half could easily be cut down by half and achieve the same goal thematically. Scorsese may have been going for a slow, calm feeling before ramping up the intensity but the audience has to slog through the first act to end at the drama of the second and third acts. He also tries a unique way to wrap up the last five minutes with spectacular success. Without spoiling the technique he uses, Scorsese found an imaginative alternative to wrap up the plot that is truly memorable.
The story of injustice placed upon the Osage Nation is one of true emotions that Scorsese taps into from the onset and is one that should be told for generations to come. The greed of the white men who tricked the Native Americans will leave the audience with a bitter taste in their mouths but one would be hard-pressed to find anyone who would argue that the famed director didn't do an outstanding job of depicting their plight. As per usual with a Scorsese film, expect multiple Academy Award nominations, and probably more than one win.
If you settle in and don't give up after the first hour, Killers of the Flower Moon will be worth it in the end as it is a brilliant piece of filmmaking.
Grade: A-
