Killers of the Flower Moon – Review [Apple TV+] (3/5)

KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON on Apple TV+ is a long movie, yes, but also a very important one. A true crime saga if ever there was one. A powerful Martin Scorsese movie. Read our full Killers of the Flower Moon movie review here!

KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON is now on Apple TV+ and it’s definitely worth watching. There’s no getting around the fact that this is a long movie, but please don’t let that keep you from watching it. Just take a break, if you need it. But do watch it in one sitting.

The story in this movie is incredibly important. Especially with what is going on in the world today, where crimes are still able to go unnoticed (or very poorly investigated) if they happen in the wrong community. Or to people who aren’t “important” or able to be loud.

Continue reading our Killers of the Flower Moon movie review below. Find it on Apple TV+ now!

Important story and a strong cast

Killers of the Flower Moon is often described as an “epic western crime saga”, which it certainly is. However, it could also be called a true crime saga. Because it most definitely is this as well.

The movie is based on the true story of how members of the Osage nation were murdered. At the heart of the story, we find Ernest Burkhart (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Mollie Kyle (Lily Gladstone). They fall in love and get married, but Ernest is also part of the murders.

He doesn’t kill anyone himself, but his uncle, William King Hale (Robert De Niro), is the mind behind it all. We’re in Osage country, but the story could’ve played out in any mafia movie as well. It’s all about money and power.

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The murders of members of the Osage Nation happen after oil is discovered underneath their land. Becoming some of the richest people in the world overnight, is ultimately what leads to their demise.

Not that they are ever truly free to use their money as they wish, in the first place. This is just another grotesque detail that you have to see to believe – or even understand.

For Ernest Burkhart, love may cross paths with murder and betrayal, but it doesn’t stop him. This was difficult for me to really understand, but in the end, he just isn’t very likable. He loves money and his wife, but also fears his Uncle.

A long movie – but not too long for its story!

Let’s deal with it head-on: Yes, at 3 hours and 26 minutes, this is a very long movie. However, let’s be honest, it’s not like we won’t all happily binge-watch a season of something that’s longer.

Also, Lawrence of Arabia was even longer (3 hours and 38 minutes), so it’s not like Scorsese invented these long movies. He’s just making them now and has the power to utilize the runtime he sees fit.

With Killers of the Flower Moon, we experience a story that everyone should already know. I may have heard of it in passing, but never enough details to understand the scale of it. The indifference with which these crimes are committed is grotesque.

While watching this, I kept going back and forth between “I can’t believe this happened” and “Of course, this is what happened”. It cannot come as a surprise to anyone that the white man is responsible for a lot of true crime. This is just one ruthless example of it!

Watch Killers of the Flower Moon on Apple TV+ now!

Martin Scorsese is the director of Killers of the Flower Moon and while I always enjoy his movies – yes, even the longer ones (some more than others) – this one isn’t without issues.

Mostly, I feel like it would’ve been good to include when and where we are throughout the movie. There are many time jumps. You have to pay attention to the number of kids to keep up. The physical appearance of the characters doesn’t change enough to be much of a clue.

It may be a small thing, but with a runtime of this magnitude and a story that plays out over a long time, you can throw the audience a proverbial bone.

The screenplay comes from Eric Roth (Forrest Gump, Dune, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) and Martin Scorsese and is based on David Grann’s bestselling book.

I would recommend everyone to watch this movie to know the history of the Osage nation. It could’ve been a better movie, but it’s still a good movie. And a damn scary and terrifying piece of history is covered!

Killers of the Flower Moon will be released globally on Apple TV+ from January 12, 2024.

Details

Director: Martin Scorsese
Script: Eric Roth and Martin Scorsese
Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Lily Gladstone, Jesse Plemons, Tantoo Cardinal, Cara Jade Myers, JaNae Collins, Jillian Dion, William Belleau, Louis Cancelmi, Tatanka Means, Michael Abbott Jr., Pat Healy, Scott Shepherd, Jason Isbell, Sturgill Simpson, John Lithgow, Brendan Fraser