Martin Scorsese has once again returned to the crime drama genre, focusing on a series of murders known as the “Reign of Terror.”
“Killers of the Flower Moon” centers on a conspiracy to murder members of the Osage Nation and steal their wealth and land. In Osage County, Oklahoma, members on the reservation received rights to royalties from oil production that was taking place on their land. The finances they inherited, unfortunately, made those with rights targets to others.
Scorsese’s film centers on these events, mainly through the eyes of Ernest Burkhart (Leonardo DiCaprio). A World War I veteran, Ernest arrives in Osage to work with his uncle William Hale (Robert De Niro) as the murders are picking up. During this time, Ernest himself marries a woman with rights to oil wealth herself, Mollie (Lily Gladstone).
Similar to Scorsese’s previous film, “The Irishman,” “Flower Moon” spans several years and explores a violent and corrupt period in America’s history. It’s a harrowing, intense and engaging picture that gives insight to an awful criminal, racist effort that ruthlessly took the lives of many people because of greed.
More than just a great crime drama, though, the movie importantly captures the trauma, fear and injustice that the Osage Nation people experienced at the time. Additionally, the movie shows how those who often claimed to be aligned with Osage members turned out to be the very people plotting against them.
By showcasing this, Scorsese and screenwriter Eric Roth not only give a full account of what the Osage Nation had to go through, but what Native Americans across the U.S. have dealt with across the country’s history. The United States government over the years signed many treaties with Native American nations, appearing to show good faith, only to break those agreements later.
While this made the film all the more powerful, it also reveals a bit of an issue with the movie. “Killers of the Flower Moon” is mainly told from the perspective of Ernest and his uncle, which to an extent is understandable. Scorsese didn’t want to tell the story fully from an Osage perspective when not Native American himself.
However, it’s also true that the film had input from members of the Osage Nation, and with their guidance, more of the film could have been dedicated to that community. This is nearly a three and a half hour film, and some of that time could have been distributed to an Osage perspective, especially from Mollie’s point of view.
That’s not to say what’s offered doesn’t keep a viewer hooked, but in a film this long, another vantage point in the Osage community could have helped. It also would have been nice simply because Gladstone is so fantastic in the role. She is absolutely sensational as Mollie, perfectly displaying the character’s anger, grief and resolve.
Unsurprisingly, Academy Award winners DiCaprio and De Niro are also fantastic on screen. Each character they play is two-faced in their own way, often hiding their true intentions. The acting duo gets this and so much more across on screen very well, making every dark moment of the film be all the more impactful.
The movie boasts an impressive supporting cast all performing at a high level, too. That cast includes John Wren and Jesse Plemons as FBI agents, as well as John Lithgow as a prosecuting attorney and Brendan Fraser as a defense lawyer, plus Cara Jade Myers as an Osage Nation member.
Scorsese’s latest is also, as expected, fine-tuned and masterfully crafted. He and his crew did wonderful work in making a film that was well shot, looked authentic and pulled no punches in showing the brutality and political realities of the era.
“Flower Moon” could have used more of a vantage point from Osage characters, especially Mollie, over its three plus hour run-time, and it features an ending that doesn’t quite stick the landing. However, it’s still an incredibly strong picture with Scorsese, the cast and crew putting in a top tier effort. 4.5 out of 5.
Matthew Liedke on Film 
An insightful review. Personally speaking, I absolutely loved this movie. A mesmerizing masterpiece that didn’t bore me at all amid its 3 and a half hour running time. I never knew Martin Scorsese had it in him to make such an engaging movie at his old age. Here is why I loved it:
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