MORE ON KILLERS, LESS ON OSAGE
Movie Review – Killers of the Flower Moon
Review by Ray Schillaci
There is no denying that Martin Scorsese is a brilliant filmmaker and his latest film is incredibly well crafted, from the actors to the production as a whole, but it is also frustrating. The director accomplishes the anger he wishes to elicit in us over the calamity of the Osage people. But, his story is centered on the killers rather than the Osage, to whom the story belongs. This is one of the few issues I have with an otherwise gripping real life drama and that’s a big one.
This piece of history belongs to the Osage Nation and it deserves to be told from their point of view rather than those that consistently took advantage and murdered them. Also, the FBI investigation that does not come until the third act feels like it’s rushed. The character of the one Native American working with them also feels slighted since his involvement is every bit important.
Scorsese’s film manages the conflict, drama and angst beautifully while paying homage to the tribal customs, costume design and period of the piece. But, his choice of focus on characters is askew, concentrating on the evil, greed and ruthlessness of one reserve deputy sheriff/political boss/cattle rancher (an intolerable Robert De Niro) and his dimwitted nephew (Leonardo DiCaprio). This works in his gangster dramas, but it’s not the best fit for the tragedy that befell the Osage Nation.
The film opens in 1920s Oklahoma with a solemn moment in the life of the Osage. They are a poor tribe and the White American society is slowly permeating into their lives. The Osage commit to a ceremony, saying goodbye to their old ways and sacrificing their way of life and the future of their children to those encroaching upon them. This is up until they mistakenly find oil during the annual “flower moon” wonder of fields of blooms and their world turns upside down for them and the lives of the White Americans.
The Osage maintain the mineral rights and members of the tribe share in oil-lease revenues, but the law requires “white” appointed legal guardians to manage their money and those of half-blood members as well that’s assuming they are incompetent. Still, the Osage become the richest tribe in the Nation. They are treated like royalty.
They attend posh parties. Drive fancy cars. Wear the nicest of clothes. And, most importantly, take ownership of their land allowing the poor white people to live amongst them. But, there is a lingering curse with this money as the Osage find members the tribe slowly and mysteriously dying off.
Enter young Ernest Burkhart (DiCaprio) returning home from WWI to live with his older brother, Byron, and their uncle William King Hale (De Niro). Ernest comes off as a half wit that worships his uncle. King explains his view of the Osage and how the town as a whole functions with the Osage owning the land and mineral rights. He comes off as a supporter of the Osage, speaking their language and giving away gifts to them.
But, the Osage are unaware that there is a whole other side King Hale hides. He is nowhere near as blatant as some in the town that over charge the Osage and take advantage of their good nature whenever they can. In the shadows, Hale arranges robberies by ranch hands, even going as far as having a few of his people marry Osage women so they can become the benefactor in the case of their death.
Hale gets Ernest a job as a cab driver and at the same time takes advantage of his nephew, giving him reason to help his older brother in armed robbery against the Osage. Ernest is not close to being as mean and devious as his brother or uncle. He’s just doing what he thinks is right according to the gospel his uncle preaches.
Soon, Ernest appears to have a change of heart, or at least some doubt, when he meets and falls in love with an Osage woman, Mollie Kyle, whose family just happens to own oil headrights. this does not even enter into Ernest’s feeble mind. But, his uncle sees the rich future ahead and encourages Ernest to woo her into marriage.
Mollie’s family is suspicious and her mother very reticent about Ernest. At the same time, no matter what his uncle says to him or how Mollie’s family feels, Ernest is genuinely in love with her. He’s conflicted over his love of Mollie and his devotion to his uncle that he worships and whose every word he hangs onf.
Ernest and Mollie are married and eventually have three children which complicates King Hale’s plans. Meanwhile, King orders several killings of wealthy Osage, wherein he will inherit their wealth through insurance policies, never getting Ernest involved. His plans for his nephew are far more important (risking his nephew the chance for second thoughts).
Instead, he slowly feeds information to Ernest – the more of Mollie’s family that passes away, the more headrights Ernest gains, and when it comes down to it, Mollie’s mother is sickly and Mollie herself is diabetic. It’s only a matter of time before his nephew could be a very wealthy man. As King Hale expects, his nephew merely accepts the eventuality not thinking about consequences or how this can all be by happenstance.
That’s the other frustrating part about Scorsese’s film. So much rides on Ernest’s character and he is far from likable or sympathetic. Scorsese has worked with unsympathetic lead characters before and kept us fascinated with Travis Bickle in Taxi Driver, Jake LaMotta in Raging Bull, and even with Bill “The Butcher” Cutting in Gangs of New York. But, Leonardo DiCaprio’s portrayal as Ernest is so frustrating and grim, all of it becomes exhausting and I had a hard time with the believability factor.
I don’t know if it’s the writing, his portrayal, or the large part the character plays in the film. But, it just does not work. As mentioned before, if the film was told through the eyes of the Osage Nation and Ernest’s character was a supporting role (perhaps played by Paul Dano who plays that kind of part with a natural fluidity), the film could have been monumental rather than Hollywood’s version of a grand epic about the heinous crimes brought against the Native Americans by the criminals of White American society.
As it stands, Killers of the Flower Moon is a well-intended historical misfire that manages to captivate and make you want to know more about what actually took place. The artistry is there, but it’s missing a heart. There are so many reasons to see this film: Lily Gladstone’s beautifully subtle and earthy performance as Mollie Kyle, De Niro’s reprehensible William King Hale, breathtaking cinematography, detailed and honorable production design, and Scorsese at least bringing to light an unfathomable set of crimes committed to Native Americans.
Although I do not agree as to how the story has been relayed on film, there is no denying the power of the script written by Eric Roth, Martin Scorsese and David Grann. De Niro’s rants as King Hale are priceless and one cannot help compare them to some TV evangelicals and some politicians. Dialogue amongst the Osage feels genuine and touches the soul at times. Even if this is not up there with Scorsese’s best, Killers of the Flower Moon is an example of fine filmmaking that shakes one’s soul, leaving you exhausted and wanting to read the book to discover so much more.
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Directed by: Martin Scorsese
Release Date: October 20, 2023
Run Time: 206 Minutes
Rated: R
Country: U.S.
Distributor: Paramount Pictures/AppleTV+
