Filled with incredible and highly memorable performances and impeccable storytelling, Killers of the Flower Moon finds Martin Scorsese expertly dealing with themes like greed, corruption, and tragedy, all the while shedding some light on an often-forgotten, dark, and horrific chapter in America’s troubled history with Indigenous peoples.
Overall Score: 10/10
Image: Apple TV+
Spanning a total of three hours and twenty-six minutes, Killers of the Flower Moon recounts the dark and horrific story about the Osage Indian murders that occurred during the 1920s in Osage County, Oklahoma.
Now, in this review, I won’t be going over the history of the Osage people as there are undoubtedly far more informed and detailed accounts of them out there — plus, I believe that each person or group’s story is their own to tell. What I will say, however, is that learning about the real-life events that the film — as well as the book it was adapted from — presents was saddening and deeply distressing. To this day, the so-called “Reign of Terror” can still be considered one of the most vile and utterly unacceptable instances of human evil and greed. And though a century has passed since its occurrence, it remains a tragic and horrific chapter in America’s long and often troubled history with Indigenous peoples.
All right, let’s start with the performances. First up, we have Leonardo DiCaprio. Now, at this point, surely you’ve heard that Killers of the Flower Moon features some of his best work yet. And look, I know that sounds like hyperbole — after all, we’re talking about the same legendary actor who’s continued to wow us for decades in films like Titanic, The Departed, Shutter Island, Inception, and Don't Look Up and who won an Oscar for The Revenant — but it’s true. The film does very much indeed feature one of DiCaprio’s best performances.
DiCaprio plays Ernest Burkhart, a man who’s presented as a greedy and good-looking but gullible dimwit. He’s very convincing in the role, and I’d even go so far as to say that he’s practically unrecognizable. It certainly helps that he nails the appropriate accent, and his perfect use of and mastery over his facial muscles and expressions really help him disappear into the character. But perhaps what’s most impressive is DiCaprio’s ability to portray Ernest in a way that simultaneously comes off as despicable, morally ambiguous, and yet somewhat sympathetic. Bringing to life a believably not-so-bright character alone is already hard enough to accomplish, but to convincingly play one with that many layers? That takes skill and talent — both of which DiCaprio, as always, continues to exhibit.
Next, we have Robert De Niro. A veteran actor and no stranger to villainous roles, De Niro is what I can only describe as “deliciously evil” in Killers of the Flower Moon. As William King Hale, he does an excellent job of exuding the confidence and arrogance required of a villain who believes he’s untouchable and shamelessly masquerades as a “good guy.” Furthermore, De Niro deliberately refrains from overacting, focusing instead on portraying Hale’s cold and calculative nature. That’s what makes him so terrifying in the role. He plans and talks of murder as if it’s nothing. He completely disregards the lives of those standing in his way. And not once does he ever show any sign of remorse. Not once. It’s truly an exceptional and chilling performance that will undoubtedly go down as one of De Niro’s best.
Yet, despite how good DiCaprio and De Niro are, ultimately, it’s Lily Gladstone as Mollie Burkhart (Ernest Burkhart’s wife) who steals the show. Through her eyes, facial expressions, voice, and body language alone, Gladstone masterfully conveys a wide range of things, from Mollie’s quiet and undying strength and determination to her never-ending grief. Yes, her work throughout the film is subtle, and yes, she doesn’t get that many big dramatic scenes, but she delivers a masterful, haunting, and utterly heartbreaking performance nonetheless.
Moving on, as expected, Martin Scorsese’s directing and screenplay (which he co-wrote with Eric Roth) are both outstanding. He deliberately keeps the film’s pacing nice and slow and effectively keeps you engaged throughout its massive runtime. Also, he expertly frames the film’s story through two distinct and equally important perspectives: that of the perpetrators and that of the victims. Of course, in the wrong hands, Killers of the Flower Moon would’ve risked glorifying the horrific crimes that were committed and sidelining those affected by it. But true to his nature as a master filmmaker, Scorsese manages to balance these dual perspectives in such a fascinating way that allows us, the audience, to fully observe — no, witness firsthand — greed and corruption in their ugliest of forms, as well as see the tragedy and harmful effects that follow.
“Can you find the wolves in this picture?” Objectively, this might sound like an ordinary question from your average children’s book. But within the context of Killers of the Flower Moon, you immediately know the answer: “Yes. Quite literally, they’re everywhere.” Greed, corruption, and tragedy are unfortunate but crucial elements that have plagued America’s history. Yet, much of the country’s dark past has been forgotten or ignored by its citizens. That has to change. Americans must acknowledge, understand, and reflect on the historical roles their ancestors had in damaging, disrupting, and destroying Native American lives and cultures. And though some may find Scorsese’s detailing of this particular chapter in history hard to sit through (as it’s sad, gruesome, and relentlessly grim), it’s nevertheless a big step in the right direction and an essential watch for all.
And with that, I believe I’ve come to the end of my review. Although it isn’t something I’d rewatch regularly, Killers of the Flower Moon is one of the best movies I’ve ever seen. And along with Oppenheimer (one of this year’s other mega awards contenders), it’s easily one of the most important ever made. Will it win any of the Oscars it's poised to get nominated for? Considering the competition this season, I don’t know. But even so, it’s a deserving film that will continue to spark necessary conversations and remind us of the dangers that the ugly side of human nature poses to us all.
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