Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)

DVD CASE/SIDE

-Not yet released

Length of film:  206 Minutes

Rated: R

Genre: Drama, Crime, History

Director: Martin Scorsese

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Lily Gladstone, Jesse Plemons, Tantoo Cardinal, John Lithgow, Brenden Fraser, Cara Jade Myers, Yancey Red Corn

IMDB Rank: 8.1/10 (Since October 2023)

Part 1 Time:  129 Minutes

Part 2 Time:  77 Minutes

Where does the first part end? Ernest Burkhart (Leonardo DiCaprio) secretly speaks with William Hale (Robert De Niro) in the middle of a celebration in the town of Fairfax.

Final line of dialogue on the first part: “Not now,” William Hale states to William. William replies “alright.”

First line of dialogue on the second part: At the liberty Cafe, Tom White (Jesse Plemons) speaks to the Osage elders. Chief Bonnicastle (Yancey Red Corn) asks Tom White, “Are you here because McBride was killed, that white man, or was it because we had to go to Washington and pay the United States government $20,000 to get you here?”

How jarring is it when the first part ends? Somewhat, with the suspicious deaths of numerous Osage peoples and a visit to Washington, the Bureau of Investigation has now sent federal agents to investigate. Earnest Burkhart is beginning to feel uneasy about the Bureau asking questions and seeks advice from William Hale, who does not seem worried. Will Hale and Burkhart be arrested in connection to the Osage Aboriginal Murders?

Which part is better? The film takes place in Osage County the early 1920’s during the period known as the ‘Reign of Terror,’ which brought about 60+ killings of Osage indigenous peoples by whites, in order to steal Osage land. Part one, recounts the crimes of Hale’s crime associates and Burkhart’s eventual marriage to Mollie (Lily Gladstone). Part two sees the uncovering of Hale’s crime syndicate with bittersweet justice. A slight edge goes to part two as the full extent of the atrocities brought onto Osage peoples by the whites are brought to light and are fully told.

Academy Awards: 2024- Best Music (Nominated), Best Original Song (Nominated- Wahzhazhe ‘A Song for My People’), Best Picture (Nominated), Best Director (Nominated), Best Leading Actress (Nominated- Lily Gladstone), Best Supporting Actor (Nominated- Robert De Niro), Best Cinematography (Nominated), Best Film Editing (Nominated), Best Production Design (Nominated), Best Costume Design (Nominated)