Last week we saw Martin Scorsese return to the big screen as director. Scorsese has directed before when it comes to the entertainment industry. He has also starred in movies such as Shark Tale, Hugo, and The Wolf of Wall Street. However, this time, Martin Scorsese is directing a film adaptation of a book based on the real-life events that happened in history. Martin Scorsese created Killers of the Flower Moon which came out on October 20th, 2023.
Martin Scorsese obtained rights to film adaptation in the year 2017. Filming was supposed to begin in 2018, but there were multiple pushbacks and delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The film finally began filming in 2021 and was financed by Apple TV+. The movie was filmed during the summer and fall of 2021 in Oklahoma where the real-life events happened at. The film even featured the Osage Nation of Native Americans who helped make the film what it is today.
The movie follows the crimes of Ernest Burkhart (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) and William “King” Hale (played by Robert De Niro) who is responsible for the deaths of Osage Tribe for the purpose of gaining their inheritance through the oil on the tribe’s land. The film does an amazing job with the representation of the Osage Tribe and the crimes committed towards them. The movie also displays manipulation through a family and how money can turn the loyalty people can have for each other. Not only that, but the film also paints a picture of brutality from the murders whether they are done by Ernest and King or by someone they pay to hire. The film, however, does have a long runtime of 3 hours and 26 minutes.
Killers of the Flower Moon film shares the same name as the book of the same name. When adapting a story based on true events, filmmakers must be careful with the execution. Ross Cline, a student at Concord University, had this to say when it came to films based on true events.
“If you choose to represent something or someone in a piece of media, I believe it also needs to be accurate as to not misinform people.”
Ross Cline
Martin Scorsese understands the importance and significance of true events and went carefully at developing the story that follows the events accurately from the nonfiction novel.
This reporter recommends seeing this movie if you are a fan of history as well as famous actors like Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro. Killers of the Moon Flower shows how far we have come when it comes to accepting diverse cultures. The movie also shows how the Osage Tribe was able to pick up the pieces and keep going to this very day.
by Kaleb Watson