Writer/Director: Martin Scorsese
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Lily Gladstone, Robert De Niro
‘Magnificent Masterpiece’
When discussing crimes in American history, one can’t forget murders of the Osage community. In the 1920’s, the Osage were an Indigenous tribe killed in bombings by gangs. Seeking the tribe’s oil wealth, bombings were organized by taxi drivers with declining mental health. Known as the “Reign of Terror”, the bombing was one in a long list of mass murders perpetrated by men with raging bull temper. Personally, I related to the Osage tribe whose lives departed in bombings FBI inspected. Years ago, bombings destroyed my family’s dreams to build homes as fancy as a casino. During childhood in Saudi Arabia, deafening bombs hit my neighborhood. On mean streets, bombing that nobody could have seen coming broke my family’s routine. I recall being woken up in silence by my father at midnight to face violence. As my house was engulfed in flame, life would never be the same. Truth be told, I was six years old. As young as Hugo Cabret, I couldn’t process tragedies with a price to pay. At an age of innocence, I couldn’t understand violence. My parents’ drive allowed me to survive. I felt relieved my family had survived a disaster that people grieved. My family left the country. However, it scarred me forever. After bombings, I was worried about my Muslim community facing killings. Unable to escape fear, bombs rung in ears for years. Realizing it is what it is, I avoided discussing the tragedy. Like the Osage tribe’s grieving, it affected my well-being. Reading about the Osage tribes was a tool I used to beat disaster that was cruel. In a nation fearing history, the Osage murders are rarely depicted in movies.
Now, Martin Scorsese celebrates Osage people mercilessly murdered underneath the moon for possessing oil fortune in his masterpiece “Killers of the Flower Moon”. Ambitious, heartbreaking and sweeping, it commemorates historic mass genocides demonstrating losses of Aboriginal people which were tragic. Scorsese celebrates Native-Americans whose centuries-old stories are forgotten in history. Boasting superb set-design, sharp storytelling and phenomenal performances, it’s a mesmerizing masterpiece. Ultimately, its meaningful message resonates with everyone experiencing violence in communities from an early age.
Amidst 1920’s Oklahoma, “Killers of the Flower Moon” recounts stories of Osage communities facing genocide tragedies. Leonardo DiCaprio embodies Ernest Burkhart, an earnest WWI veteran seeking wealth in Osage nation. Ernest becomes wealthy after marrying Mollie (Lily Gladstone), a member of Osage communities. However, relationships end abruptly following murders targeting Mollie’s family. Facing conspiracy, Ernest experiences genocides against Native-American communities.
Martin Scorsese adores crime-ridden communities. Whether it’s taxi drivers, boxers or gangsters, his movies capture violent characters. With “Killers of the Flower Moon”, however, Scorsese creates historical epics. It’s the filmmaker’s attempt capturing Native-Americans, but he succeeds. Using captivating cinematography, Scorsese captures crimes committed against the Osage communities. Visually, it’s a feast for eyes as stunning as oil Osage people idolize. Evoking “Goodfellas”, Scorsese uses long takes capturing violence. Long takes elevate the explosion scene. In an unforgettable scene, Scorsese captures Mollie’s heartache witnessing bombs through long takes. It reminded me of bombs leaving my family devastated. Long takes are tricky. If “Gangs of New York” indicated anything, long takes aren’t always successful. As “Hugo” suggested, long takes elevate adaptations. “Casino” proved long takes elevate gangster epics. However, it succeeds. Alongside DP Rodrigo Prieto, Scorsese honors tribes. Scorsese honors history, constructing theatrical viewing.
If Native-American communities don’t attract attention, however, there’s reasons to see “Killers of the Flower Moon”. Scorsese successfully employs silence in movies, and “Killers of the Flower Moon” is no exception. Accompanied by sound-designer Mark Ulano, Scorsese recreates trauma through silence. For instance, silence elevates the ranch fire scene. During this unforgettable scene, Ernest is speechless discovering his uncle’s ranch he grew to admire is demolished with fire. One acknowledges silences recalling “Raging Bull”. It reminded me of my shame refusing talking about my house that became demolished in flame. Scorsese uses silence to convey genocide that came with a painful price to pay. Silence tricky. As “Silence” demonstrated, silence elevates religious epics. “Shutter Island” suggested silence elevates psychological thrillers. However, it succeeds. Furthermore, music is extraordinary. Commemorating “The Departed”, it celebrates departed communities. Through phenomenal production-design, Scorsese demonstrates genocides.
Another extraordinary “Killers of the Flower Moon” aspect is storytelling. Scorsese’s screenwriting strength is demonstrating influence of violence on Native-Americans through voice-over narration. In Hollywood, most movies portray Aboriginal communities as victims without pride experiencing genocide. As case in exemplar: Kevin Costner’s “Dances with Wolves” depicted Aboriginal communities as victims of tragedies. Fortunately, however, “Killers of the Flower Moon” avoids these problems. Scorsese wisely avoids portraying Indigenous communities as victims of tragedy. Commemorating “Taxi Driver”, Scorsese uses narration to showcase influence of violence on the Osage community. Like Travis Bickle’s disgust towards New York’s prostitution, Mollie is disillusioned by mass destruction. Narration elevates the scene where Mollie lists members of communities murdered without investigation. It reminded me of my sadness discovering members of my Muslim community perished in tragedies. Narration is complicated. As ‘The Wolf of Wall Street” demonstrated narration elevates stockbrokers dramas. “The Age of Innocence” suggested narration elevates old-fashioned dramas. Nevertheless, it succeeds. Through thought-provoking storytelling, Scorsese commemorates Native-Americans.
One admires astonishing performances.
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Leonardo DiCaprio delivers a career-defining performance as Ernest Burkhart. DiCaprio sheds his image as a heartthrob hero to portray villainous characters without courage. It’s challenging embodying a real-life veteran developing connections with Native-American communities, but DiCaprio succeeds. Evoking Harvey Keitel in “Mean Streets”, DiCaprio embodies a guilt-ridden criminal whose violence on mean streets disrupts family’s routine. With mesmerizing expressions, he captures anxiety, desperation and resentments of criminals organizing genocides. It’s a phenomenal performance.
Lily Gladstone is extraordinary as a Native-American woman seeking justice for crimes committed against communities. Evoking Frances McDormand in “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”, Gladstone personifies a courageous woman seeking justice for murders. As Mollie, Gladstone demonstrates Indigenous women experiencing violence through silence. Whether she’s joyfully flirting with her husband or tearfully mourning passings of sisters in murders, Gladstone embodies Native-American women facing violence through minimal dialogue. It’s an Oscar-worthy performance.
Lastly, Robert De Niro is remarkable. In his most villainous role since “Cape Fear”, De Niro proves he hasn’t lost abilities to captivate in his career.
Finally, everyone will swoon over “Killers of the Flower Moon”. Evoking “The Irishman”, Scorsese makes a long movie that’s thoroughly entertaining. The film discusses universal themes of community, greed and racism. Viewers aren’t required to be Native-Americans to appreciate it. Despite running over 3 hours, it captivated me. As “The Aviator” suggested, 3-hour long movies are rarely entertaining. However, this one is an exception. Therefore, everyone appreciates the movie.
Fans of Martin Scorsese would appreciate “Killers of the Flower Moon” and so will audiences that give acknowledgements to genocides. A masterpiece, it honors departed Native people affected by bombings whose stories deserve to be recounted. A century after the Osage community was killed in bombings under the moon by institutionalization killers seeking oil fortune, hopefully Indigenous tribes’ stories give individuals motives to acknowledging genocide misfortune soon.
A grand tribute to tribes that died in grim genocide planned by gangs seeking prosperity, it’s a great reminder of bombing impacting Indigenous people’s ability to be somebody in neighborhoods full of nobodies.
Like hard-hitting punches of raging bull boxers in the ring, it’s a riveting reminder of the harmful impacts bombings had on well-being of Indigenous people mourning murders of relatives that were devastating.
If movies have powers to give people hope to overcome traumatic terrorist disasters, stories of Aboriginal people killed in tragic murders planned by taxi drivers can inspire people affected by bombings to recover.
As prosperous as the Osage community’s oil, it has motivated me to reconcile years after bombings that made blood boil began to spoil my family’s plan to live on Middle East soil by celebrating Aboriginal tribes that overcame genocide turmoil.
5/5 stars
The Film Buff 