No. 76 (2023) KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON. Oct. 24th.

 

Film No. 76  (2023)  October 24th.  10:40 AM  EVENT CINEMAS,  VMAX Cine 16,  Innaloo.

"When these women die of these illnesses, you have to make sure that these head-rights come to you. That's the way it is." (Uncle Bill lectures Ernest on the duties he must carry out as the husband of Molly, as she cares for her sick mother and ailing sisters).

NOMINEE: The Most Anticipated Film (Martin Scorsese) Hollywood Critics Mid-Season Awards.

 

I've not read the book, Killers of the Flower Moon, but I'll be seeking it out. David Grann's important documentation of what happened to the Osage Nation in the badlands of Oklahoma during the early 20th century has now been captured by Martin Scorsese, in a film of the same name. And,  running at 209 minutes, your cinema experience, if you choose to accept this mission, will be long, but very worthwhile. 

When a director of Scorsese's standing is presented with yet another opportunity to depict GREED (THE WOLF OF WALL STREET, THE IRISHMAN) on screen with a relatively unlimited budget (Apple Studios) it's not likely he'll be rejecting the idea, is it? And the story of why a peaceful people, like the indigenous population of the Osage Nation, died in great numbers as oil in great abundance was being extracted from their native land, was tantamount to genocide. So, how did it happen and what were the processes of justice which had the guilty prosecuted?

I'm not into retelling this story. No way, but I will emphasise the fact Scorsese is at his best here. He and fellow writer Eric Roth gathered together their tried and tested team.  DiCaprio's, Ernest, DeNiro's Uncle Bill and Lily Gladstone's Molly dominate the screen and thus the story. We never tire of their talents as they control the pace at which this vile and horrific tale unravels. I came to the film with no historical knowledge of this time. I kept waiting for a change in emotional intelligence from DiCaprio, an outburst of meteoritic proportions from DeNiro and then, for Gladstone to maintain the knowing demeanour we first meet her with. Knowing the story changes my experience with KILLERS. DiCaprio is particularly good here. He and Gladstone are about to be showered in nominations in the coming months.

A running time of three and a half hours should not be an obstacle to seeing a film so well directed, so well performed, so well designed and so important. I say, should not, in the hope you'll go see this brilliant feature film.  11GUMS.