Dfter the triumph of audiences and critics at the last Cannes Film Festival, finally comes out on Thursday in Italian cinemas Killers of the Flower Moonthe last film directed by the great Martin Scorsese. And with protagonists Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro. Here are the key things to know before watching.
Killers of the Flower Moonthe plot of Martin Scorsese’s film
Based on the novel The killers of the red earth (Corbaccio Editore) written by David Grann and released in 2017, is set in the Oklahoma of the 1920s, specifically in the Osage Nation, after large oil deposits were discovered in that area. Owners of some plots of land rich in black gold, these Native Americans are killed one by one by a plot hatched by the rancher William Hale (Robert De Niro).
On the victims the newly formed FBI arrives to investigate, which will reveal a chilling conspiracy and those responsible for one of the most monstrous crimes in American history. There is support for the police force Ernest Burkhart (Leonardo Dicaprio), nephew of the feared Hale and married to an Indian woman of Osage, played by Lily Gladstone.
Leonardo DiCaprio, Lily Gladstone, Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro on the set of “Killers of the Flower Moon”. (Apple)
The true story of the Osage massacre
The murders of the Osage Indians occurred in Oklahoma County during the 1910s – 1930s. Newspapers at the time described the period as the “Reign of Terror”, for the number of unsolved murders. Si says that more than sixty wealthy full-blooded Native Americans were killed. But according to recent investigations the death toll could reach around a hundred.
Most of the murders were committed for the purpose of take over the land and wealth of Osage members, whose land produced a lot of oil. Law enforcement investigations revealed extensive corruption among local officials, e most of the murders were not prosecuted.
However, some of those involved were found guilty and sentenced. Between them William Hale, the character played by Robert De Niro. Arrested in 1926, Hale was sentenced to life in prison, thanks to the testimony of his nephew Ernest. About twenty years later, Hale was granted house arrest. After a long period in a retirement home, he died in 1962.
Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro in “Killers of the Flower Moon”. (Apple)
The controversy over duration: «We respect cinema»
With a budget of more 200 million dollars, Killers of the Flower Moon It arrives after 4 years The Irishman, Scorsese’s latest film produced and distributed by Netflix. As the previous, this film also exceeds three hours in length (to be precise, three hours and twenty-six minutes). A choice that, since the official presentation at the last Cannes Film Festival, has made many turn up their noses.
«People say three hours is too long,” Scorsese commented in an interview with Hindustan Times. «But spending five hours in front of the TV instead? Can that be done? And when you go to the theater, and a show lasts 3 and a half hours? You have the actors there in front of you, you can’t get up and leave, it’s a question of respect. So we also respect cinema».
Lily Gladstone, the Native American actress who conquered Scorsese (and how)
Born in Montana in 1986, grows on the Indian reservation of the Blackfeet Nation, up to 11 years. In the first five lives in a log cabin, with a wood stove. The parents, of origin Blackfeet and Nimíipuuthey push her from an early age to attend theater courses then, after high school, to move to Missoula. The debut at the cinema is in 2012 with Jimmy P. directed by Arnaud Desplechin. Then the meeting that will change her life: the one with the American director Kelly Reichardt who in 2016 entrusted her with a part in the film Certain Women next to Kristen Stewart and Laura Dern. And then in 2019 a small role in First Cow.
Lily Gladstone on the red carpet at the last Cannes Film Festival. (Getty Images)
Noin August 2020, in the midst of a pandemic, the absence of prospects leads her to imagine a radical change of life. As she told her to The Hollywood Reporterdecides to sign up to an online data analysis course applied to beekeeping. But, while he is in front of the computer as she is about to proceed with the payment, she receives a Gmail alert telling her the arrival of a message from… Martin Scorsese. The great director he absolutely wants a Zoom meeting with her to talk to her about the role of Mollie in Killers of the Flower Moon. And the rest is recent history.
Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro, “together” for fifty years
There are probably few actor-director collaborations as successful, or famous, as the one between the two Italian-Americans Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro. Killers of the Flower Moon scores their tenth film together.
The two have worked together since 1973 when, both in their early twenties, they make the film Mean Streets – Sunday in church, Monday in hell. They have since worked together in Taxi Driver, New York, New York, wild bull (which earned De Niro his second Oscar), Kings for One Night, Goodfellas, Cape Fear, Casino And The Irishman.
Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese on the set of “Raging Bull”. (Rcs archive)
In Killers of the Flower Moonthe actor plays William Hale, the evil cattle rancher accused of organizing a massacre against wealthy members of the Osage tribe. And, reading the first reviews of the film, it seems that De Niro has never played such a cruel and Luciferian role.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly furthermore, Scorsese stated that during the film’s premiere in New York, some friends didn’t even recognize De Niro in the role of William Hale. «There are friends of mine who have seen the film and have known Bob for years…They told me, after seeing the film, that in the first part they didn’t realize it was Bob. Incredible”.
The differences compared to the book (thanks to Leonardo DiCaprio)
Compared to David Grann’s book, Scorsese has worked some important changes and the main one is the point of view on the story told. In the book it is the FBI agents who arrive in Osage and then slowly discover the crimes that are taking place. Leo was originally supposed to play FBI agent Tom White (role which then passed to Jesse Plemons).
However, something happened during the writing phase that changed his mind Scorsese and co-writer Eric Roth, leading them to start over from the beginning. For this reason, yesu DiCaprio’s suggestion, the story in the film is told through a love story between his character and his Native American wife.
«Simply put, it didn’t seem like we had gotten to the heart of the matter. There was this very little scene between Mollie and Ernest that caused such an emotion in us while reading that we started wanting to know more about them. And it all started from there”, DiCaprio told British Vogue.
The (rich) cast of secondary characters
In addition to the two stars De Niro and DiCaprio, and the rising star Lily Gladstone, Scorsese’s film is packed with other important names. Starting from Jesse Plemonsas FBI agent Tom White, the character DiCaprio was originally supposed to play. Husband of Kirsten Dunst, Plemons is in the midst of a golden moment of his career, also thanks to the Oscar nomination for The power of the dog by Jane Campion. You had already worked with Scorsese The Irishman.
To enrich the cast there is also Brendan Fraser, fresh Oscar winner as Best Leading Actor for The Whale. A triumphant return for the actor The Mummyafter many years of oblivionwhich in Killers of the Flower Moon plays the powerful and corrupt lawyer WS Hamilton. Another special mention for the legendary character actor John Lithgow as Prosecutor Leaward who tries to indict William Hale for murder.
iO Donna © ALL RIGHTS RESERVED