Director: Martin Scorsese

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Writers: Martin Scorsese, Eric Roth

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Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Lily Gladstone, Robert De Nero, Jesse Plemons, Brendan Fraser

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Leonardo DiCaprio and Lily Gladstone lead the cast in this epic crime drama telling the true story of the oppression of Native Americans during the oil boom of the 1920s. 

Directed by cinema legend Martin Scorsese, Killers of the Flower Moon shines a much needed light on the unjust treatment of the Osage tribe who were used and abused for their land. The direction and storytelling of this enormous film is masterful, Scorsese uses nuanced conventions to drive the plot and fill the space with the use of his phenomenal cast. 

 

The film opens with Ernest Burkhart (DiCaprio) returning to America after serving abroad and moving in with his brother Byron (Scott Shepherd) and their uncle, William Hale (Robert De Nero). Ernest earns an honest living as a taxi driver, where he meets Mollie (Lily Gladstone) a full blooded Osage. When William finds out Ernest and Mollie have developed a friendship, he persuades Ernest to marry her to gain access to her tribes oil laden land. 

 

In a painful and brutal turn of events, members of the Osage tribe are mysteriously killed off one by one, including Mollie’s mother and sisters. It’s made apparent from the off that these murders are being ignored by authorities and Mollie takes it upon herself to instigate an investigation. Once the white men catch wind of Mollies movements, they endeavour to ensure she can no longer carry on with her investigations by the cruelest means possible. 

 

Eventually, Molly and her family call upon a senior member of the FBI, Tom White (Jesse Plemons) to aid her in the search for the killers and in doing so, Ernest gets arrested and tried for his involvement in the murders. 

 

The story unfolds with twists and turns, heartbreaking moments and emotional beats, all powerfully brought together with Gladstone’s incomparable performance. 

 

Based on the book of the same name by historian author David Grann, the attention to detail throughout the film is not lost. Constant respect is shown to the Native Americans throughout the film, forming a meta comparison to the infamous lack of respect shown to the tribes during the oil boom and still to this day. The film touches on incredibly sensitive subjects whilst paying tribute to those that continue to be oppressed in North America. 

 

The film is epic and huge. The three and a half hour runtime feels exhausted at points with the story’s slow burn nature, and huge plot points are revealed far too early to hold on to any form of mystery. However, it tells the story well and the outstanding performances glue everything together in a meaningful and likely award winning fashion. 

 

This historical epic is beautifully shot and supported by a breathtaking score from longtime collaborate with Scorsese, Robbie Robertson, who sadly passed this year. Killers of the Flower Moon is a film on seismic proportion, likely to be compared to past epics like Laurence of Arabia and Gone With the Wind, Scorsese knows his craft and continues to take risks in this cinematic epic for the ages.