'Killers of the Flower Moon' Review | Robert De Niro, Leonardo DiCaprio & Lily Gladstone Are Perfect

Added: Oct 23, 2023

The hosts begin by acknowledging the anticipation surrounding Scorsese's films and the high expectations that come with his name. They mention the strong collaboration between Scorsese and DiCaprio, citing films like "The Aviator" and "The Wolf of Wall Street" as examples of their successful partnership. They also discuss the underrated nature of "The Aviator" and its place in Scorsese's filmography.

Moving on to "Killers of the Flower Moon," the hosts praise the film's stillness and silence, noting that it allows for powerful and engaging moments between the characters. They highlight the performances of DiCaprio, De Niro, and Gladstone, emphasizing their brilliance and the emotional depth they bring to their roles. The hosts also commend the film's score and cinematography, particularly the recurring bass note that serves as the heartbeat of the Oage Native American community.

The hosts discuss the film's length, acknowledging that it feels like a three and a half hour movie. While they recognize that it could have been a miniseries, they appreciate the pacing and the deliberate choices made by Scorsese. They also mention the criticisms surrounding the film's point of view and the need to read up on different perspectives, particularly from the Oage community.

The hosts delve into the technical aspects of the film, praising the production value and the cinematography that captures the beauty of Oklahoma. They mention specific shots, such as the silhouette of the fire and the slow-motion sequence of Native Americans dancing, that stood out to them. They also discuss the lack of flashy camera work and the simplicity of the film's style, which they believe reflects the stillness and silence of Gladstone's character.

The hosts discuss the lack of a traditional "Oscar moment" for Gladstone's performance but emphasize the strength of her portrayal and the complexity of her character. They also mention the manipulation of DiCaprio's character by De Niro's character and the moral quandaries presented in the film.

In terms of their overall impressions, the hosts have mixed reactions. While they appreciate the technical aspects and the performances, they feel that the film falls short of being a masterpiece. They compare it to Scorsese's other films and express a desire to see it again, with some feeling that it didn't fully utilize its runtime.

The hosts continue by discussing the language and the stillness of the film, noting that it allows the audience to feel the emotions and the moral dilemmas of the characters. They mention specific moments where they wanted to intervene and help the characters, highlighting the film's ability to evoke strong emotional responses.

The hosts then delve into the topic of exposition in the film. They note that Scorsese trusts the audience's intelligence and does not feel the need to over-explain things. They discuss a scene in which DiCaprio's character reads books about the Osage people, which provides exposition in a natural and engaging way. They appreciate Scorsese's ability to let the story unfold without excessive exposition.

The conversation then turns to the violence in the film. The hosts note that the violence is depicted in a shocking and emotionless manner, which adds to the impact of the story. They discuss how the desensitization to violence affects DiCaprio's character and his descent into a cycle of violence.

The hosts also discuss the ending of the film, which features a radio teleplay depicting the story. They appreciate how this ending highlights the reduction of the tragedy to entertainment and the omission of the murders in Molly's obituary. They find it to be a powerful way to convey the message of the film.

The hosts mention the cinematography in the film, particularly a shot of children looking into a scene. They find it disorienting and effective in immersing the audience in the characters' perspective.

Towards the end of the podcast, one of the hosts, Jake, shares his experience of interviewing Martin Scorsese. He mentions that he asked a question that encompassed Scorsese's entire career and received a thoughtful response. He also shares that Scorsese mentioned being worried about the souls of two characters: Ernest from "Killers of the Flower Moon" and the priest from "Silence."