Killers of the Flower Moon is a story of white greed. Shortly after serving in World War I, Ernest Burkhart (Leonardo DiCaprio) returns home to Oklahoma. Ernest soon gains employment from his uncle William Hale (Robert De Niro), a prominent cattle rancher who lives amidst the local Osage on the reservation. The Osage have become affluent due to the discovery of oil on their lands. Sensing an opportunity to tap into that wealth, Hale encourages Ernest to court Mollie Kyle (Lily Gladstone). Kyle’s family, like many other Osage, retains lucrative headrights to the oil-lease revenues. These headrights would pass onto spouses or children should something unfortunate befall Mollie or any of her kin. Soon after, the murders of many prominent Osage begin occurring with most of the world turning a blind eye.
What works in Killers of the Flower Moon is the slow burn revelation of unspeakable atrocities to enlighten the populace. Writer/director Martin Scorsese (The Departed, The Irishman) puts his characters first in an exploration of gullibility, depravity, and gall. The audacity of the white barons to steal and pillage from the Osage is abhorrent. Scorsese presents these events honestly to illicit discomfort but keeps them palatable given the depth. It would be easy in the modern era to look at the results of the Osage transgressions and inquire: “how could it ever get to that state?” Scorsese does an excellent job paving that road of escalating malice through intricate examples of deception. And thanks to incredible production design and cinematography by Rodrigo Prieto (The Wolf of Wall Street, Barbie), Killers of the Flower Moon is both beautiful and horrific to witness.
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Audiences who don’t enjoy epic dramas focused on the brutal mistreatment of peoples may not enjoy Killers of the Flower Moon as much as others. This is a purposefully uncomfortable film. It is not meant to entertain but rather to educate. And given that this history lesson is 3.5 hours long, it may struggle to hold people’s attention, no matter how important the message. Also—as one may expect given the material—Killers of the Flower Moon is incredibly sad. The only characters worth empathizing with or rooting for are constantly powerless. As such, the void of justice may feel overwhelming for some.
Killers of the Flower Moon is a powerful piece of cinema. Scorsese remains a sharp auteur by crafting an epic that demands recognition given the narrative. And thanks to outstanding performances by DiCaprio, De Niro, and Gladstone, the film will engross watchers beginning to end, despite the runtime. Very highly recommended.
Recommended if you Enjoyed: Gangs of New York, The Irishman, Blood Diamond
Killers of the Flower Moon is now available in theaters and streaming on Vudu.
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