Killers of the Flower Moon – a cinematic masterpiece

Killers of the Flower Moon, the American epic Western crime drama film, directed and produced by the legendary Martin Scorsese. Scorsese also co-wrote this piece with Eric Roth that is based on David Grann’s gripping 2017 book of the same name.

This film takes us on a haunting journey through a series of gruesome murders in the Osage Nation, a Midwestern Native American tribe of the Great Plains, during the 1920s. At the time oil was discovered on their tribal land, setting off a chain of devastating events.

Killers of the Flower Moon paints a vivid picture of the time. The Osage Nation became some of the richest people in the world suddenly as a result of the discovery of oil at the turn of the 20th century. Osage’s richness attracted European settlers, who used deception, extortion, and theft to steal as much money as they could before turning to murder. This narrative sets the stage for an enthralling exploration of a dark chapter in American history.

The cast is led by some of the industry’s finest talents: Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, and Lily Gladstone deliver performances that are nothing short of extraordinary, supported by a remarkable cast featuring Jesse Plemons, Tantoo Cardinal, John Lithgow, and Brendan Fraser.

Notably, this marks the sixth collaboration between Scorsese and DiCaprio and the tenth between Scorsese and De Niro, a testament to the cinematic chemistry that keeps delivering.

The journey to bring Killers of the Flower Moon to life began in March 2016 when Imperative Entertainment secured the film adaptation rights. Scorsese and DiCaprio’s attachment in 2017 signalled the start of an eagerly anticipated project, but it encountered numerous delays, especially due to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, the stars finally aligned, and production commenced in February 2021 with the backing of Apple TV+ and Paramount Pictures.

Principal photography captured the breath-taking landscapes of Osage County and Washington County, making this film the most expensive production ever to grace Oklahoma, with a reported budget of $200 million.

The film made its world debut at the prestigious 76th Cannes Film Festival on May 20, 2023, where it left an indelible mark on critics and audiences alike. The movie garnered widespread critical acclaim for its direction, screenplay, score, cinematography, production design, and the unforgettable performances of DiCaprio, De Niro, and Gladstone. It’s a rare and remarkable feat when a film excels on so many fronts.

Killers of the Flower Moon is out this week in South Africa and is a completely immersive cinematic experience.

The cast’s standout performances, combined with Scorsese’s masterful direction and a compelling script, make Killers of the Flower Moon a film that stands head and shoulders above most contemporary offerings. This is a must-watch, although very long, but the story is moving. This movie is destined to become a timeless classic, and a testament to the enduring power of cinematic storytelling.