Killers of the Flower Moon (2023) Review

Title: Killers of the Flower Moon
Year: 2023
Director: Martin Scorsese
Country: US
Language: English

Martin Scorsese's Killers o f the Flower Moon is releasing at an interesting time in Canadian Indigenous politics. The public inquiry regarding investigations into Missing and Murdered Indigenous women is steadily increasing. The demand to search Canadian landfills for remains has put enormous pressure on politicians. On a monthly basis we're finding mass graves of residential school victims.
 

When oil is discovered in 1920s Oklahoma under Osage Nation land, the Osage people are murdered one by one - until the FBI steps in to unravel the mystery.

Scorsese's film highlights the historical injustices that faced the indigenous peoples of North America. The negative affects of colonization and forced assimilation are present in Killers of the Flower Moon. The casual racism that was accepted during this time period proves shocking and accurate. 

On a technical level, this film is one of Scorsese's best works. The score, by Robbie Robertson, plays like a haunting heartbeat. The set design, costuming and cinematography perfectly capture the time period. The editing is remarkable as the pace is brisk. The acting, by pretty much everybody, is A level. Lily Gladstone doesn't talk much, but her body language tells us a tremendous amount about the scene. 

Although I do wish we had even more of the indigenous perspective, I think Killers of the Flower Moon will be considered a classic a decade from now, similar to There Will Be Blood. This was a great cinematic experience; I look forward to watching it again.