Killers Of The Flower Moon

In spite of the effort it took not only to not use the bathroom for three and a half hours, but to drag my friends to the theater to do the same, I’m extraordinarily glad to have gone to see legendary director Martin Scorsese’s latest feature, Killers of the Flower Moon.

I’ll start with what I’m sure many people are wondering. Yes, the runtime is worth it. While I wouldn’t describe it as a film that “flies by,” I think that the length serves the purpose of developing a familiarity with the characters and the setting. The tragedy of the film carries significantly more weight once the audience has gotten to know them more.

The cinematography was among Scorsese’s best; the framing and camera motion brilliantly setting the tone of each scene. The film could just as easily provide an intimate and close look at the characters as it could a harrowing and baroque action scene. And these such scenes were made exceptionally immersive by the authentic production design and creative use of color. The warm setting invites the viewer into the world, which makes the tragic plot all the more devastating.

The sound of the film is also used to great effect. Director Martin Scorsese and editor Thelma Schoonmaker report that in their more recent films they have been more interested in the use of silence. It provides a subtle but important contrast between the calmer scenes with the more intense ones. These calms are especially important to slow burn films like this, adding to the intensity by providing the characters a temporary sense of comfort.

It is made easy to connect to these characters’ emotions by the outstanding performances. The acting is arguably the best part of the film. Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro, both longtime collaborators with Scorsese, deliver some of the best performances of their careers. Much of the supporting cast was similarly excellent. Jesse Plemmons and Brendan Fraser stood out as some of the best.

But the actor standing out as the best in my opinion was that of Lily Gladstone. Truly a monumental performance that fully embodied the complexity of her character. It was immensely impressive that she was able to hold her own against acting juggernauts like Dicaprio and De Niro, but to arguably even surpass them is an incredible accomplishment. She is undoubtedly deserving of her Oscar nomination, and has this journalist’s undying support.

As has been mentioned a few times before, this is an emotionally heavy film. While it is definitely worth watching, I feel I should make it clear how utterly devastating it is. Killers of the Flower Moon is an unflinching look into some of the darkest moments of American history. It touches on some of Scorsese’s trademark themes, such as guilt, greed and consequence, but presents them in a uniquely devastating way due to their implications for the lives of the people hurt, and the cutthroat, greed-ridden state of many American tragedies in the future.

As heart-wrenching as it gets, you never stop feeling the film’s importance and meaning. And that weight has a stunning amount of staying-power that leaves the viewer with a lot to contemplate. At the time of writing this, I watched it nearly four months ago, and I have not stopped thinking about it since.

Overall, Killers of the Flower Moon was a sensational film. The thoughtful directing, moving performances and the weight of the overarching tragedy made for a film of unparalleled impact. Among the best of the year, and a must-watch for anyone interested in film or American history.