Movie Review: Killers of the Flower Moon

 Movie Number 36 of 2023

The Movie: Killers of the Flower Moon

The Cinema: Hoyts Victoria Gardens

Stars: 4

Martin Scorsese is a genius. There, I've said it. And sure, the 81-year-old director, writer and producer has had a lifetime to perfect his craft, but Killers of the Flower Moon shows Scorsese at his best. The acting, the direction, the screenplay, the cinematography are all top-notch. It also tells a very important story, one which not many people will have heard of, and to great effect. 

Before I give this film the once over, I have to warn anybody looking at going to see this of two things. Firstly, it is a bit grizzly in places. Thankfully these scenes are short, sharp and used in a non-gratuitous way. The second is that this film is over three and a half hours long. The time goes quickly, but this isn't a film you go to for a quick pick me up. It's long, involved, confronting and a bit of a slog in places - but it's very worthwhile. It was unfortunately made to feel a bit longer by the people next to me talking in loud voices intermittently. I moved seats about halfway through, giving up in disgust. 

Killers of the Flower Moon tells the story of the Osage people. Rotten Tomatoes.com describes this as, "Based on David Grann's broadly lauded best-selling book, "Killers of the Flower Moon" is set in 1920s Oklahoma and depicts the serial murder of members of the oil-wealthy Osage Nation, a string of brutal crimes that came to be known as the Reign of Terror."

And brutal it is. We watch as Ernest Burkhart (Leonardo DiCaprio) comes back from World War One to work for his uncle, William Hale (Robert De Niro), who is the overseer and local businessman who has his fingers in many pies. In the background, over time, many of the Osage tribe, who have negotiated oil rights and gained much wealth from this. However, with the money, the Osage have no power. The whites are taking huge advantage of the tribe, not allowing them to spend their money, marrying to take their rights away, performing large scale insurance fraud. It's the wild west at its worst. 

Ernest, after starting up as a chauffeur in the town, meets and marries Mollie (Lily Gladstone), a daughter of one of the prominent first nations families, and with her mother and sisters, has access to a lot of money - even if she has to ask her protector to use the funds. Mollie is not in the best of health. Of her sisters, they have all made questionable marriages to white men, and all are dead by the halfway mark in the film. 

Of the obvious murders, none are investigated until Mollie begs some outside assistance from the President to send the F.B.I. This story takes up the last hour of the film.  

This has everything you expect from a Scorsese film. DiCaprio, De Nero and Gladstone put in Oscar-worthy performances. What's surprising is seeing DiCaprio play a man who is almost simple. Ernest Burkhart is not so much simple, but gullible, doing the bidding of his uncle, Bill 'King' Hale. Lily Gladtone's understated performance as Mollie, a woman of few words is incredible. She holds the film brilliantly as her family are busy dying around her. 

There are some fantastic cameos near the end. Jesse Plemons, Brendan Fraser and John Lithgow turn up in the courtroom scenes near the end. The First Nations cast are also inspiring. 

This is also a treat for the eyes. The Rodrigo Prieto's cinematography and Thelma Schoonmacher's editing make this a visual feast, showing the rolling hills and barren nature of Osage County to great effect. The last few minutes, shown as a radio play, with a cameo by Scorsese is also effective. 

It has also been noted in reviews that Scorsese ensured the involvement of the Osage people throughout production. This film is telling an important story. It does not feel in any way exploitative. 

This won't be for everybody. The film's length seems oppressive. But Killers of the Flower Moon is really worth watching - it's too important to miss, even if it is to see how White Man's greed, corruption and cruelty can decimate a nation. 

Today's song:

Nup

 "What are your doing tomorrow?"

"Nothing."

"Nothing at all?"

"I might sleep in, go to the gym, do some writing, torment the cat, go for a walk, maybe see a movie."

"You're not watching the race?"

"Nup."

"Or going to a barbeque."

"Nup. There are better reasons to eat charred meat and drink beer."

"You don't commemorate this all-hallowed day?"

"Nup. It's a gazetted day off, I can't do anything about it. I live in Melbourne, I'm not allowed to work. We never had the day off when I was a kid, but I'm from Adelaide. I think we had another horse race day when I was a child."

"Have you ever watched the Cup?"

"Not since I was a child. I have no interest. It's a horse race. I'm not into horse racing. I don't like the gambling. For all the good owners and trainers, there are a lot of bad ones too. It's a rich people's sport idolised by the poor. Why would I want anything to do with horse racing?"

"Okay."

"I'm not stopping anybody else doing something for it, I just don't see the point of it. Like the day off before the AFL grand final."

"You're not into sport then?"

"Not really."

"That's a bit un-Australian."

"If that's so, strip me of my Australian passport and send me to England or France. I don't care."

I had a version of this conversation three times today. 

I have no interest in horse racing.

I'm not fond of the reports of animal cruelty you hear from race tracks (and I know it's not all trainers and stables - just like not all men beat their partners.)

I don't like how the day glorifies gambling and drinking. 

I think that as a community we can move past what might have been worth celebrating 100 years ago and find new things to commemorate, in keeping with the times. 

I say Nup to the Cup. 

Not stopping anybody else doing anything. 

It's just not for me. 

Today's song

NaNoWriMo Guilt

 Writing is a horrid vocation. Absolutely horrid. No matter what you do, you never seem to do enough, or do it well enough, and it leaves you wracked with guilt. 

Even worse, when you set yourself a goal. 

And you watch those goals go through the rearview mirror and never see them again. 

And you're once again wracked by guilt. 

So I set myself a NaNoWriMo goal. 

NaNoWriMo is an annual, international event. It asks you to write 50,000 in the month of November on your given project. 

I set myself this target, and promptly fell ill. Today's been the first day I've felt normal enough to write anything more than a blog post complaining about feeling ill. 

So as of now, five days in, I have 1264 words written. By rights, by the end of this day, to keep on track, I'd be wanting to have around 8500 words on the page. It hasn't happened. 

Today got derailed by friends dropping over, breakfast out, lots of washing and a few episodes of Friends. 

I reckon I might plant myself in the State Library on Melbourne Cup Day and see if I can catch up a bit. 

The struggle is real. Hoping some inspiration comes with the decrease in snot. 

I hate missing deadlines. 

Today's song: 

Sunday Stealing: ABC

 I'm just happy to be upright and able to write. After four days in bed with something that probably was COVID, not that the tests were saying this. It's just nice not coughing or falling down in a big heap. And to be able to concentrate for more than a few minutes. I'm even doing the ironing, which has been sitting there all week. I must be better. 

 So, here's this week's questions, brought to us by Bev at Sunday Stealing.                                                                                                                                                                                 

A - Ambition: 

To be happy. Is that such a bad ambition?

B - Birthday: 

It's in mid-August. It's normally a cold and wet day, being winter in Australia. I enjoyed my birthdays more when I was living in England. 

C - Computer: 

I have three computers at home. All run Windows - I've never been able to convert to a Mac. Other than the work laptop, there's my normal laptop and a smaller one which I take travelling. Sometimes you need a screen and an iPad won't cut it. 

D - Dream: 

I rarely dream. I used to be in a dream group, but I felt like I was letting down the team for not dreaming regularly. 

E - Exercise:

I am looking forward to exercising again after being sick for a week. I love walking and doing weights. Best feeling in the world - which some could say is a strange thing. I'm hoping to go to the gym tomorrow morning for some gentle weights and stretching to get myself back into the game. While I was on holidays I was averaging 20,000 steps a day. I loved that. 

F - Favorite Food:

Ice cream. It's good for you. 

For something a bit more sensible, I'll go with Mum's roast lamb. It's the best. 

G - Garden: 

I like visiting gardens, but I don't have one of my own. The nearest thing I have to a garden is the pots of cat grass that sit in the windowsill growing so that Lucifer and munch on them. The pots are in strict rotation. I'm also trying to revive the spider plant he chewed down to the nub while I was away. He's a but funny like that. 

H - Hobby:

I love to knit. Which reminds me, I do need to finish off a hat before I go on retreat in early March next year. I haven't been doing much knitting of late. 

I - Idol:

Ruth Bader Ginsburg. She was an amazing woman. A real trailblazer. As an Australian Idol, Julia Gillard, our one and only female Prime Minister gets a nod. She got a lot done under some terrible conditions (horrid working environment and press coverage). 

J - Job:

I have a day job as a technical writer. It's okay. A good use of my skills. 

K - Kids:

I don't have any. Smelly and expensive things. Don't know if I'm missing much. 

L - Location:

I am currently residing in Naarm, on Wurundjeri Land, which is part of the Kulin Nation. 

It's also known as Melbourne. 

Australia is starting to take up the traditional names of the lands on which with live and work. I'm on board with this. 

M - Military:..

Something to be quietly supported, but that is about it. I'm not fond of guns or war. I can see why it's there but I don't have to like it. But I'll never diss anybody for their military service. They give their lives for the country, and for that, I'm proud of them. 

N - Name or Nickname:

My nickname, which is in common use, is Panda. I always give the name Panda to baristas, and they always raise an eyebrow. It often needs to be followed with the comment, "Like the bear. " In French, that translats to , "Je m'appelle Panda. Comme d'ours." 

O - Optimist or Pessimist:

I'm definitely an optimist. 

P - Pets:

I have the world's most charming black cat called Lucifer, Many say he is not charming, but I think he's wonderful. He's just a bit misunderstood. 

Q - Quote:

"I'd like to live like a poor man - just with lots of money." Pablo Picasso. 

R - Reads:

I am currently reading Yellowface by Rebecca F. Kuang. It's okay - very understandable from a writer's perspective. 

My current audiobook is Unruly: The Ridiculous History of England's Kings and Queens by David Mitchell. It was advertised on the tube while I was in London. I'm loving every minute of this. it's hilarious. 

S - School:

There is a part of me that ponders doing a PhD, then I get real, and work out that I like having money and sanity and continue on the path of trying to write a book. 

T - Travel:

Is a necessity of life and should be done as often as possible. Short trips, long trips - both need to be done. 

U - Unfulfilled ambition:

To be a doctor. I'm glad I never became one, but I still wonder what that alternative universe would be like. 

V - Vacation spot:

I would say anywhere with a pool, but the South of France stole my heart away a few weeks ago. I'm not sure if I will ever get it back. 

W - Wardrobe:

If you mean what do I wear - probably best called Melbourne Utilitarian. Lots of black, cotton, wide legged trousers and loose tops. I go for comfort over fashion. Too old for real fashion, but I have my own style. 

X - X-tra facts about me:

I've learned to walk a couple of times thanks to operations on my legs when I was a kid. 

Y - Years online:

Far too many. I've been using the internet since the mid 90s. 

Z - Zodiac sign:

I'm a Leo. If you want to get more in depth, I'm a Leo/Virgo cuspy, with a Capricorn ascendant and a Cancer moon, with a five planet stellium in Virgo (Jupiter, Venus, Mercury, Uranus and Pluto). I hang out with astrologers. I know these things. 

Today's song: 

Ten thoughts of Today

 I'm finally starting to get better. After four full days on the couch, either hacking up a lung or feeling so awful I've been reduced to watching old episodes of Friends, finally, I'm starting to perk up a bit. 

I'm grateful to friends who drop the odd thing off to me. Jay came around this afternoon with some dry ginger ale - my drink of choice when I'm poorly. She tells me I've got COVID. The five tests I've done over the week say otherwise, but I'll let her think that. I have been flattened by this, but I'm also responding well to the antibiotics. 

Anyway, here's ten thoughts from today, which has been spent mostly on the couch . 

1) Having no appetite is a great thing, but you do have to push down a bit of food, even if it is to take medicine with. 

2) No matter how bad you feel, parcels will need to be delivered at 8.30 in the morning, to be collected from the front gate with you wearing you Elmo pyjamas. 

3) Neighbours will witness you wearing said Elmo pyjamas - it doesn't matter that you're 55-years-old. Elmo rocks. 

4) Friends hasn't aged that well. 

5) I don't mind the changes they've made in the Lessons in Chemistry series, versus the Lessons in Chemistry book. I love that an episode drops once a week. It's actually a very cool series - the changes are fine. Bree Larson is awesome. 

6) Being sick, my cat, Lucifer, has been looking after me. Well, he's been sitting on my work chair making sure I don't sit in front of a computer for too long. I can't sit in front of a computer for hours at a time, but it's nice to know he's looking out for me. 

7)  Murphy's Law states that the hot water will go to sleep just as you're wanting to get the conditioner out of your hair. Doubly so when you're needing a hot shower. Thankfully, the hot water is working again. 

8) NaNoWriMo guilt is real. I signed up to do the annual National Novel Writing Month competition, but I've been too sick to write anything. Phlegm has a great way of stripping any creativity from your bones. 

9) Lychee Oolong with Aloe pearls Bubble tea from Gong Cha is a great rehydrator and you can't make me change my mind. That dude should to a tic-toc about it. Best bubble teas.

10) The cat gets snarky when he's not allowed to sit on 'his' chair. I think he's telling me to get back on the couch. 

Today's song: 

Over It

 Chest infection. Ear infection. Antibiotics. Lots of fluids. Four hourly panadol. Ventolin.  Not leaving the couch. The cat is sitting on my office chair keeping watch. 

A temperature of 38 degrees is fun. 

I ache from head to foot. 

This is the end of day three. 

I'm officially over it. 

It feels like the antibiotics are starting to work. which is good., 

But as as contractor, you only take days off if you are at death's door. 

Four days off this week. 

Not happy about it, but at least I'm turning the corner. 

But frankly, I'm just over it. 

Today's song: 

It Came

 Look what came in the mail today!

It's only taken three weeks. 

And it's not even for me. 

See:

I've got a good relationship with my postie, Dazz. Of course I'm going to send him a post card. 

So hopefully he was on duty when this got dropped off today. 

I'm quite proud of myself. I remembered to call Australia the French AUSTRALIE. Put Australia and it might end up in Austrial - then again, in French, Austria is L'Autriche. It's a bit different., Not like how Myponga gets all of Mypolonga's mail at the post office, and vice versa. I'm sure that's still happening. 

It's in my doctorish scrawl. 

It's got the non-descript French stamps on it, which I asked for in my best French at a post office near the Pompidou Centre. 

The card has a picture of the Eiffel Tower, which I didn't see lit up like that. I was there on a sunny day. I would have liked to see more of it, but we were having a picnic, and then we were heading to the Richelieu Library. It's just the way the day turned out. 

I've been up the tower, only to the second level. I'd like to go back.

I'll have to make it happen. 

Today's song: