Rent Killers of the Flower Moon on Amazon Video (paid link) // Buy the book (paid link)
Written by: Eric Roth and Martin Scorsese (screenplay), David Grann (book)
Directed by: Martin Scorsese
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Lily Gladstone, Jesse Plemons, John Lithgow, Brendan Fraser
Rated: R
Watch the trailer
Plot
When oil is discovered in 1920s Oklahoma under Osage Nation land, the Osage people are murdered one by one until the FBI steps in to unravel the mystery.
Verdict
It's a well made movie from the production design and acting to the directing. Its is long, seemingly better suited to a television mini-series. The story is harrowing, something relatively unknown as the people that write history would rather skip it. This is what happens when greedy men in power find someone of which can be taken advantage. The very premise that the Osage can't make decisions on their own with their money only facilitates exploitation. Hale wasn't content to profit on the new healthy economy, he wanted to steal funds from the source.
It depends.
Review
Scorsese's last movie The Irishman was a return to his mobster movie roots. His most renowned movies would be Goodfellas or Raging Bull, though my favorite is The Departed.
The Osage got the worst land when they were relocated, but it turned out they were on a large oil reserve, becoming incredibly rich. That breeds contempt as many are killed for their money; plenty of people preying on them.
Ernest (Leonardo DiCaprio) back from the war, heads to his uncle Hale's (Robert De Niro) ranch. Ernest's uncle wants to get him married to an Osage woman for the sole purpose of getting her oil rights. Hale sends Ernest and his acquaintances to rob the Osage; in one scene a robber tells the Osage they did nothing to earn those jewels. Quite ironic seeing as how they are stealing and themselves not earning it. This all while Hale pretends to be friendly.
 |
| Lily Gladstone, Leonardo DiCaprio play Mollie, Ernest |
Mollie (Lily Gladstone) knows Ernest is after money, but also thinks he may want to settle. It's got to be a tricky situation. You don't want to think someone is faking their affections, but you have to be wary especially when you see what's happening to your community. Ernest seems to truly like her.
Hale proclaims to be a friend to the Osage, but he begins orchestrating killings so that Ernest gets more head rights. Any member of Mollie's family would have a partial claim. Getting rid of them, gives Ernest sole claim. It's terrible. Ernest and Hale are already wealthy, but it's never enough. The root of their various crimes is that they don't see the Osage as people. They're a means to an end. The Osage were a wealthy nation that's eliminated one by one and no one is held accountable. Investigations turn up nothing.
This is long, quite long. With the length this could be split into four episodes; the pace fits closer to television than movies. Any other director would be forced to edit this down. The length does give this time to build the fabric of this world, we see all these small moments and transgressions. Hale and Eernest are tied up in all of these murders, and they aren't particularly careful. It it doesn't matter as Hale runs this town.
 | |
|
Mollie goes to Washington D.C. to elicit help, bringing the FBI to investigate. Will that go anywhere? Ernest already ran out a private investigator Mollie hired. I was never quite sure about Ernest. Is he stupid or just not a mastermind like his uncle? He often seems a bit too simple. He claims to love his wife, but he's fully aware he's killing her family members one by one and poisoning her. As he states in the film more than once, he loves money more than anything, almost more than his wife. Just like everyone in this area was quick to take advantage of any opportunity, Ernest turns on his uncle when it becomes advantageous.
The way this ends is powerful; a radio show retelling the Osage story. As it points out, with Scorsese doing the reading, Mollie's obituary didn't mention the murders of her entire family. History quietly ignored the uncomfortable parts. This movie strives to make it known.
No comments :
Post a Comment