Killers of the Flower Moon is challenging, dramatic story of a family, it reveals a part of history that must be known. Martin Scorsese is the director and his last dramatic film was The Irishman (2019). Scorsese co-wrote the screenplay along with Eric Roth whose last movie was adapting Dune (2021). The screenplay is based on the 2017 non-fiction book by David Grann who also wrote The Lost City of Z (2009) that was turned into a 2016 film. It opens to an Osage ceremony with a pipe burial ceremony. Outside, an oil puddle bubbles and then bursts! We see a beautiful shot of dancing in the rain of oil in slow motion. I like showing the traditions and discovery of the oil in Osage which was in 1897. There is some impressive cinematography by Rodrigo Prieto, who worked with Scorsese on Silence (2016).
This shifts to black and white film, a documentary about how the Osage Indian Reservation, Oklahoma became weathly from the oil wells. Ni Okašką, “People of the Middle Waters”, is the name for the Osage Nation. The setting is implied so the Grann book is an important companion to the film. The tribes had settled near the Osage River in what is Missouri. Then, moved to Kansas, and next bought their reservation in Oklahoma giving them mineral rights. We see that they have chauffeurs and wealthy clothes sending their children overseas for education. There is some lively music by Robbie Robertson who collaborated with Scorsese since Raging Bull (1980). He died after the completion of the score. The film is dedicated to him. We see people interested in the new wealth flooding into Osage County specifically the town of arifax.
On board a train is one of them (Leonardo diCaprio) which we see now a color change. DiCario worked with Scorsese on a crime film with The Wolf of Wall Street (2013). His character here, Ernest Burkhart, speaks with a Midwestern drawl and he has yellow teeth, more of an ordinary man. He passes by a fistfight in this rough town and is taken to see his Uncle Hale by Henry Roan (William Belleau). They pass by endless oil rigs that go to the horizon. Ernest asks Henry, “Whose land is this?” Henry replies, “My land.” There are endless numbers of cattle by a two story house. Ernest is greeted as a war hero returning from World War I by William Hale (Robert De Niro). The long time partnership with De Niro and Scorsese includes The Irishman (2019). William usually wears a suit, fedora, and glasses; a wealthy and calculating man.
Ernest explains he was a cook in the infantry and was injured so he can’t do any heavy lifting. William tells his nephew, “Call me uncle or king.” This informs the character of William Hale as someone above others while trying to be just like everyone else. Also, at the side is Byron (Scott Shepherd), Ernest’s brother. He asks Ernest about women and his nephew replies, “That’s my weakness.” Ernest is given a book, Wild Tales Among the Indians, and he flips through the pages. Then, we see an Osage man, John Whitehair (Talon Satepauhoodle), 23, is on a floor, frothing at the mouth, until he dies. A woman, Sarah Butler (Jennifer Rader), is shot and then her baby is taken. These deaths are not investigated and became what was known as the Reign of Terror that ran from 1921 to 1926. Then, we get the family photo of Mollie Kyle (Lily Gladstone). Certain Women (2016) is a movie that starred Gladstone as a rancher, Jamie, in the independent drama.
William notes that Mollie is diabetic and suggests to Ernest about marrying her. We see the Osage people queuing up for their headrights payments. This is the share to owners of the Osage mineral rights. Ernest sees Millie and then helps her cross the street to his car. She speaks in the Osage language and tells Ernest the meaning, “That’s how you are.” She also mentions the Flower Moon, the Osage term about the time in May when larger flowers wilt the blooming flowers. Mollie later gives Errnest the gift of a white hat. He sees her mother, Lizzie Q (Tantoo Cardinal), who walks away. Cardinal played Black Shawl in Dances with Wolves (1990). Ernest has picked up enough fo the Osage language to understand that Mollie called him a coyote!
At church, Ernest is a little awkward there, and later Mollie talks with her sister, Anna (Cara Jade Myers) who calls him a snake. Still, Mollie admires his blue eyes. Minnie (Jillian Dion) notes that Ernest wants their money. This is an important scene showing the sisters together revealing their thoughts about the men privately in Osage. Later, she kisses Ernest in his car in the rain. He asks Mollie to marry him. The next day, Ernest goes to talk to William at a pool hall. After the wedding ceremony, William mentions that the headrights can pass to him through marriage. He also seems to be fluent in speaking the Osage language, friendly to everyone, and goes to talk with Mollie’s sister, Minnie who is crying. William talks with Minnie and then cries out in Osage. She is later found to be dead from a “wasting illness.”
Later, Mollie is able to go down to Washington, D.C. and convince President to investigate the deaths. This leads to an investigation by federal agent, Tom White (Jesse Plemons). The characters are presented with complexity, the film doesn't present reasons for their actions, the audience may decide their motivations. The movie’s run time is three hours and 26 minutes and I will say the pacing and fascination of the characters makes it pass without noticing until the end. Gladstone has a performance as a wife and mother caught in the tragedy to her family and people. The film also touches upon the Tulsa Race Massacre. It challenges the audience to find out more about the Osage, Tulsa, Killers of the Flower Moon is a powerful, complex drama about the betrayal of Mollie and the Osage and how it reflects the struggles of the Osage and other communities today.
Five Blooming Flowers out of Five!
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