Killers of the Flower Moon proves Scorsese still has it
When Killers of the Flower Moon was released in theatres I didn’t rush out to see it. Of course I was intrigued at the prospect of a new film with the names Scorsese, De Niro and DiCaprio…but then I remembered The Irishman. Well that isn’t entirely true, I don’t remember much about The Irishman aside from the pricey and awful de-aging technology. The edginess that Scorsese achieved in every shot of his films has seemingly gone missing in the last 15 years, and with each new movie my anticipation has diminished. Yet I digress, as I stated in my opening sentence I didn’t rush out to see this movie and that was my mistake.
If you have ever felt bullied, intimidated or forgotten this movie is for you. At first glance Killers of the Flower Moon might feel too uncomfortable and that is precisely its objective. The story focuses on a series of murders of Osage members in 1920’s Oklahoma. From start to finish the sheer scope and ruthlessness of these murders will seem unbelievable, even though it is true. The stark imagery, dense costumes and gritty colour invoke feelings of being constrained. As the story progresses the booming sounds continue to build upon that discomfort. Recently, I have found myself becoming nostalgic for the Scorsese of old: Mean Streets, Goodfellas and The Departed. Well I am happy to report Scorsese successfully brings back that same grittiness and transplants it into history.
The authenticity of this film is achieved by the brilliant performances of all of its actors. I was worried about De Niro being able to rise up to the occasion after an array of garbage roles and famously claiming he is “forced to work.” Nevertheless, he gives and amazing performance opposite an equally brilliant DiCaprio, whose downturned mouth and greedy eyes fuel his overall ugliness. The standout performance of the film however comes from Lily Gladstone who will win the Academy Award. Gladstone immediately commands your attention. There is something so elegant about the way she sits and delivers her lines. I can’t quite pinpoint it but every word is precise with the perfect amount of emphasis and enunciation. Her acting is innate, powerful and deserving. Moreover, I must mention the amazing backgrounds actors, many of whom are not actors at all but chosen due to the length of their braids or chiseled features. I especially enjoyed Tommy Schultz who portrayed Blackie Thompson. Although his time on screen is limited his delivery is real.
It is hard to imagine that anyone could get away with targeting a particular group for money and then picking them off one by one without any police intervention. Such injustice is finally revealed in an excruciating fashion that only Scorsese can depict. With both brutality and empathy, there are few movies that I have watched and wished would never end. Killers of The Flower moon is one of them. Thus making Killers of the Flower Moon the best movie of 2023.