Estimated read time: 6-7 minutes
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Martin Scorsese is Hollywood royalty. In fact, the man is so prolific the spell check on my computer even recognizes his name and lets me know I constantly misspell it.
The man has made some incredible movies over the years. Still, I have an unpopular opinion: I don't think he has the Midas touch.
While I love many of his movies, I don't think everything he touches turns to gold. I will admit that every film is expertly crafted, but that doesn't always mean I enjoy them.
Scorsese's latest film, "Killers of the Flower Moon," has been a long time coming and highly anticipated. So, where does it fall on my spectrum of all things Scorsese? It's better than many, but I'm not sure I'd call it his best. However, it is a brilliantly made film that isn't for everyone.
Here are some reasons I thought "Killers of the Flower Moon" was a fantastic film and some reasons it is not one of my favorite movies of 2023.
The good
The acting is superb
This point should come as a surprise to no one. The acting in "Killers of the Flower Moon" is brilliant. I'm guessing some Oscar nominations and possibly some wins are coming. Leonardo DiCaprio gives one of his best performances. He's one of the most recognizable actors in the world, but he gets lost in the character of Ernest Burkhart, and you forget you're watching the Academy Award winner.
Robert De Niro gives a haunting performance as King Hale, and minor roles from John Lithgow and recent Oscar winner Brendan Fraser are worth mentioning. None of these come as a surprise, nor does the fact that Jesse Plemons turns in another fantastic performance. What is a surprise, however, is how incredible Lily Gladstone is in this movie.
It's not a surprise she could give a powerful performance, but more so this name isn't recognized as holding her own with these heavyweights, but she out-punches them on more than one occasion. If I had to guess, I would say the best supporting actress at the Oscars this year will come down to Gladstone or Emily Blunt for "Oppenheimer."
The story is enthralling
"Killers of the Flower Moon" is based on actual events that occurred in Oklahoma with members of the Osage Tribe. It is a classic case of "fact is stranger than fiction." I won't give any spoilers for those hoping to see the movie, but know this story should be told, and it unravels hauntingly and engagingly.
Some twists, turns and moments make you run your hands through your hair and say, "No way, that just happened."
This is not a feel-good movie, but the story is both fascinating and heartbreaking.
The not-so-good
The pacing is sporadic
I think it's vital people know the run time of "Killers of the Flower Moon" is just under 3½ hours. I don't mind a long movie, if it is warranted, and rarely does a movie warrant nearly three hours and 30 minutes. I believe the story of "Killers of the Flower Moon" deserves that run time, but where the filmmakers decided to focus some of that time felt like a mistake.
I couldn't help but watch certain scenes and wonder why it was necessary to introduce that storyline which goes nowhere, why we needed to hang on to this landscape shot for so long, or why a conversation went on as long as it did. Some of these wasted moments added to the run time and could have been replaced with scenes that moved the story forward and introduced more of the intrigue and motivations of our characters.
I don't want to get into specifics, but there is so much to unwrap in this true story and detours that don't further the story are unnecessary distractions.
It's a tough watch
I don't know this is bad, but it is more of a warning. "Killers of the Flower Moon" is a dark and depressing film. There is not a lot of joy in this story and, therefore, not much joy or hope in the film adaptation. I do not think they should have sugar-coated anything in this story or tried to make it lighter; I believe it is something potential audiences should be aware of.
Three hours, 30 minutes of sad and depressing storylines can be a lot for someone not in the correct head space.
What parents should know
I don't think many kids will be running out to this movie, but people will be talking about it, and I'm sure many teenagers will be curious.
"Killers of the Flower Moon" is rated R, which I believe is the correct rating. The movie has three, maybe four F-words, which is shocking for a Scorsese film. "The Departed" had nearly 240. There is talk of sex, but it is not graphic, and other than a married couple kissing in bed, there is nothing shown.
There are two areas where the movie earns its rating: violence and tone. The violence is not constant, but it can be brutal and graphic when it happens. There are plenty of disturbing scenes when it comes to violence.
The tone of the movie is heavy and dark. Even without the violence shown on screen, I still think the film could have earned an R rating.
Conclusion
While "Killers of the Flower Moon" may not be the best film Scorsese has ever made, it is well-made. For those who know the story, I think you will find the movie does it justice. For any cinephiles out there, this is your kind of movie. Brilliant performances, expertly shot and well-written.
For those who go to the movies to escape reality and have fun, this is not your movie. While I think you'd appreciate the filmmaking, this is not what you want to spend your time and money on when Friday night rolls around.
"Killers of the Flower Moon" is officially rated R for violence, some grisly images and language.
