Movie Review: "Killers of the Flower Moon" (2023)

I saw this film on the 9th of November, 2023.

I think it was everyone's first instinct when going to see this movie to make sure you had: a) eaten something, b) used the bathroom, c) had at least a bottle of water and some snacks with you, d) wore something comfortable, especially if you were going to be sitting down for 4 hours or so and e) made sure you had enough phone battery to call a taxi to get you home. I have to admit the planning that I had to do when going to see this movie seemed a bit on the extreme side but, in the end it was all pretty much worth it.

The entire story from start to finish was compelling and the acting was very much a great contender to make Christopher Nolan's coming Oscar campaign difficult. That being said however, there was a pitfall that I think not a lot of people thought of and even I myself am a bit unsure about. It is an observation upon a certain person who seems to have got away with portraying the same kinds of characters over and over again which at this point, is getting a little boring.

You are probably going to ask me whether I think this movie required an intermission. Before I saw the movie, I was a big fan of the intermission being a part of a movie-going experience. However, after seeing the film I can honestly say I could not find a single place you would put the intermission. There was no correct space for it and so I have to say now, I am whole-heartedly not up for intermission. Against it? No. People with illnesses or disabilities require intermission, but my viewing did not have one and I just would not know where it would go. If you had an intermission during your viewing, I would love to know more about where it was. I'm guessing it was when Ernest got himself arrested but I could be wrong.

Now, the best acting in the film by a flying mile was Robert De Niro. Never in my life have I seen a bad film with this guy. He plays the arch-villain and machiavellian deceiver very well as we all know and it would have been a crime not to put him in the role of it in this film. I will however say that Leonardo DiCaprio's acting is becoming very much the same thing over and over again and that can be a bit boring when you're watching a lengthy movie like this one. But, I think that the contender for the Oscar is pretty much sealed for the men as being Robert De Niro for at least Best Supporting Actor. Be that as it may, Robert Downey Jr may not break a sweat over it.

The second best piece of acting I saw in that movie was the quiet contemplation of Lily Gladstone. She is quickly becoming one of my favourite actors because of this role and I would definitely watch the film again just to see her acting. The character understands things about the surrounding political atmosphere and keeps silent until that key scene right at the end of the movie when she figures out what truly went wrong here. Her inability to disbelieve and then her inability to believe have a stoicism to them which complements Leonardo DiCaprio's raging anxiety and maniacal fear of his uncle perfectly. If there is anyone this year who should recieve the Best Actress Oscar it is Lily Gladstone. And I did not think I would say that after seeing Emily Blunt in Oppenheimer.

The story is based on a book by David Grann that when it came out, everyone including myself read and thought "this would make a great Scorsese movie". I'm glad it turned out that way and even though there are changes in the book - (for example: the story concentrates a lot more on the Native Americans than it does on the FBI in the movie, whereas in the book it is the other way around) I can definitely see what out storytellers were doing, especially when the director inserted himself into that key scene. All in all, this film is not just an Oscar contender but is obviously a great movie that will be remembered as one of the decade's best.