Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)
"Real love crosses paths with unspeakable betrayal as Mollie Burkhart, a member of the Osage Nation, tries to save her community from a spree of murders fueled by oil and greed."
This movie accurately portrays journalist David Grann's 2017 novel. Based on the historical murders of the Osage nation in the early 1920s, it recounts how a white businessman & "true friend" to the Osages masterminds the brutal murders of numerous tribe members.
The film's cast is talented with past Oscar-winning performances under their belt. The film could've easily been a poor execution of a controversial novel, but Scorsese and his entourage do a brilliant job.
The film captures the greed and racial privileges between Osages and Whites from an omniscient point of view. You get to feel hatred for the villains Ernest Burkhart (Leonardo DiCaprio) & William Hale (Robert DeNiro), sorrow for Mollie Burkhart (Lily Gladstone) & the Osage victims, and pity for the characters. Upon seeing the family of Burkhart's lawyer W.S. Hamilton (Brendan Fraser), the audience understands how deep the corruption runs in Oklahoma. After Mollie goes to Washington DC to voice the Osage tribe’s fears and murders including her family, justice prevails with the birth of the FBI. Tom White (Jesse Plemons) investigates the murders and helps stop the reign of terror in the Osage nation.
I enjoyed watching this film. I watched it in AMC's Dine-In theaters for a relaxed viewing that included a meal with reclining seats. The film's running time is almost 4 hours. It was a great film, but I needed comfort over a premium format like IMAX's immersive experience. I am a big fan of Leonardo DiCaprio & Scorsese's films. I would re-watch this film to delve deeper into details I missed in my first viewing or simply enjoy this cinematic masterpiece. This is my first letterboxd review & I hope to share more reviews in the future!
(Watched on Oct. 27, 2023)