Killers Of The Flower Moon

I have been a big cinema visitor since i was a young boy in the late 80´s. Back in those days i used to go to the big screen after i made my money selling morning newspapers, and if i had made some extra money i would spend it on another film. Back in those days a film could cost about 50 Swedish kronor compared to 140 Swedish kronor that a ticket cost today so it was easier to see more than one film. I remember when i was 14 years old back in 1990 and i got my ticket to Martin Scorseses latest film Godfellas, a mobster film that critics were calling one of the best films of that year. I wasn´t allowed to go see this film since you had to be 15 years old to get into the screening but since i knew the cinema worker Michael he knew how much i loved director Martin Scorsese and he let me in. That was one of those magical moments i will never forget from one of the greatest cinema experiences i have ever had. Godfellas was truly an amazing film with a perfect cast. No matter if we are talking about the acting performances of Ray Liotta, Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci and many other actors this really is one of the true iconic motion pictures from legendary director Martin Scorsese. After Godfellas i actually went to see every single motion picture that Martin Scorsese released in cinema. Interesting enough i would say that ever film i have seen him direct have been fascinating for different reasons. One of my personal favourite 90´s films from director Martin Scorsese ( not as good as Godfellas but still a classic ) is the 1995 crime drama Casino that reunited Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci, the difference was of course that this film focused on a plot regarding a famous casino in Las Vegas. Here we find sports handicapper and Mafia associate Sam "Ace" Rothstein ( Robert De Niro ) who is sent by the Chicago Outfit to Las Vegas to run the Tangiers Casino, with frontman Philip Green ( Kevin Pollack ). Sam soon doubles the casino´s profits, so to make sure Sam is safe Chicago boss Remo Gaggi ( Pasquale Cajano ) Sam´s childhood friend and mob enforcer Nicky Santoro ( Joe Pesci ) to protect Sam. Casino is not only one of the greatest casino films ever made but this is a very powerful mobster drama as well with really good acting performances. A film you definetely need to watch on streaming or on a physical copy. Speaking of Martin Scorsese he released his latest film Killers Of The Flower Moon last year, a film i have really been looking forward to see. Especially since it was going to tell a story that includes the lives of indigenous people. Is the film Killers Of The Flower Moon another proof of why director Martin Scorsese is one of the greatest directors of all time, or is it not as powerful as i was hoping it would be?

In 1919, Ernest Burkhart ( Leonardo Di Caprio ) returns from World War I to live with his brother Byron Burkhart ( Scott Shepherd ) and uncle William King Hale ( Robert De Niro ) on Hale´s large reservation ranch. Ernest soon meets Mollie Kyle ( Lily Gladstone ), an Osage whose family owns oil headrights. They decide to get married in an Osage ceremony and over the next years have 3 wonderful children together. Hale secretely orders the contract killings of multiple wealthy Osage. He explains that Ernest inherit more headrights if more of Mollie´s family dies. Mollie is suffering with diabetes while her mother Lizzie Q ( Tantoo Cardinal ) is ill. More Osage people end up being killed just so Hale´s plan will be successfull, but will it work if the truth is revealed?

If you are a true fan of director Martin Scorsese just like myself i can guarantee that you will enjoy Killers Of The Flower Moon. Even if this is in many ways a different film from what he have done in the past, you can still feel that Scorsese knows exactly what he is doing. I am especially talking about his unique way to direct his films where you can actually sense that this feels like it´s taking place in the year of 1919 and other years following. The costume design looks really good and as always you can trust that director Martin Scorsese have made sure that the characters are interesting. The biggest power that Killers Of The Flower Moon is the quality of acting that we get in this film. Especially from legendary actor Robert De Niro and Leonard Di Caprio in their scenes together. These two actors are the perfect example of how you want professional actors to perform on screen. Their dialogue is smooth, powerful and will definetely make a strong impact on you. I would especially say that Leonardo Di Caprio as Ernest is one of those characters i think a lot of people could feel a connection to. On one hand he is a family father who cares for his family but hes also struggling with personal issues, while he may not be the most smartest individual. One of the strongest acting performances comes from actress Lily Gladstone playing the Osage woman Mollie. There are several scenes where you can feel her pain as she see her people being murdered and no one seems to care. One of the issues i have with this film is that i think director Martin Scorsese should have shown even more of the brutality, how indigenous people have been brutally murdered, and experienced a lot of racism hate over so many years. He does show some scenes of some murders but i think in a film that´s 3 hours and 20 minutes that could have been done much more graphical. If you are going to show reality of indigenous people i think you should do it properly as truthful as possible. Otherwise i still feel that this is a very interesting drama that´s not only interesting from a historical perspective, but i also feel that people should be aware that racism have always been a part of society. Director Martin Scorsese may not have done his best film with Killers Of The Flower Moon but it is definetely a film you will enjoy if you like his previous work. If you can sit through 3 hours and 25 minutes this is a film that have a lot of important issues to talk about. I wouldn´t be susprised if Killers Of The Flower Moon bring home at least two Oscar statues this year, there is a lot to appreciate about the qualities of this film. A must see if you are a true Martin Scorsese fan.

Rating: DDDD