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Martin Scorsese has not shown much consideration for the sensitivities of ethnic minorities. A quick look at his past works reveals that he has often portrayed and mocked Italian-Americans, Irish-Americans, and Jewish-Americans. (Even the typically privileged Wasp-Americans are not exempt in his period piece adaptation, The Age of Innocence.) However, his recent change in attitude towards the Osage tribal nation while making Killers of the Flower Moon has resulted in a unique and significantly different film for Scorsese.
The harrowing tale of the Osage murders could not be told in any other way. It serves as a prime example of the greed and manipulation of newcomers, the belief in “manifest destiny,” and the callousness of humanity. Even today, the story still sends shivers down one’s spine. Director Martin Scorsese, with input from actor Leonardo DiCaprio, chose to deviate from the police procedural approach of David Grann’s original text and instead focus on the human drama between Mollie Kyle and her husband Ernest Burkhart. Their relationship is carefully examined, highlighting the conflicting emotions they both must have felt. This is also why the film has such a lengthy runtime, despite not having any physically demanding journeys at its core. However, Scorsese masterfully presents the film’s grand scale with ease, making suggestions for a bathroom break seem unnecessary and even annoying to him.
The movie’s objective appears to be using one relationship as a means to comprehend the bigger picture. However, in doing so, it may overlook the extent and gravity of the murders. Nevertheless, the outcome is worth it: with two substantial roles for DiCaprio and Lily Gladstone, and another impressive display of villainy from Robert De Niro as rancher William King Hale, who was found guilty in one of the many suspicious deaths of the Osage people, Killers of the Flower Moon presents a captivatingly complex character-driven plot. It serves as a platform for Scorsese (and likely the rest of Hollywood) to make amends to the Osage community and showcases outstanding performances from all three lead actors.
Scorsese masterfully weaves together all the different aspects of the story, skillfully balancing the main plots and introducing the character of FBI agent Thomas Bruce White, albeit a bit later in the film. The subplot of crime investigation certainly adds to the cohesiveness of the story, but Scorsese also highlights the idea that both he and Hollywood cannot continue in their current ways. This exceptional movie serves as the final word on the matter.
Source: theguardian.com
