Killers of the Flower Moon - Review 

Scorsese directing makes me look at other older directors his age lowkey kinda slacking and I go “what’s ur excuse?” Scorsese wanted to learn about the Osage tribe and being a blue collar Italian Catholic from little Italy… now at 80 years old wants to learn about a totally different religion and society and show their suffering on screen when he could have done ANY other random movie? That’s filmmaking. It’s not just entertaining people it’s about learning and taking time to discover new things

It’s also interesting that Leo is now the age De Niro was when he was in CAPE FEAR. You should also see THIS BOY’S LIFE. It’s excellent. DiCaprio and De Niro’s first film together

Just came home from watching it. Started it 7:30PM and ended at 11PM. 😂 I absolutely loved it! It didn’t really feel its length, and I will be tired at work tomorrow happily for seeing this!

As always, a pleasure to hear the passionate opinion of one of those people who make the cinema experience something extraordinary. I really want to see this movie. It seems like the opportunities to see the work of great directors are coming to an end in this strange era of cinema without soul or personality. The good thing about all this is that the great films last over time and that the voice of people like you James carries through the networks the essence and importance of these to those who today are unaware of the vast legacy of the great masters. As always, long live cinema and the new flesh.

Read. The. Book. It's really a history of the beginnings of the FBI. And also a history of Native American oppression by the US. And a great murder mystery. Can't wait to see this movie, but not in the theater. Over 3 hours is more than my old bones can take in a modern movie theater.

The book is excellent! It's really more about the beginnings of the FBI as these killings were some of the early cases...

I might've shaved a little off, but definitely not an hour. While it's true that Scorsese lost me throughout the 2000s, he got me back on board with Wall Street and has been on a winning streak ever since. Wolf, Silence, Irishman and Flower Moon are among his best. Been a fan of Gladstone since Certain Women and she continues to be a compelling screen presence.

Good on you, James, for being able to critique DeNiro’s accent. He’s a tremendous actor, but he’s always at his weakest when cast in a role that isn’t a man from NYC. He doesn’t have great technical command of his voice, like Day-Lewis or Streep.

i will be watching it sunday afternoon, when they announced the film i bought the book it was a good read if you like non fiction, the run time doesn't bother me but how about bringing back the intermission at least 5 minutes so people can stretch a bit im old enough to remember when theaters use to have them

I got a fuckin’ ticket for this Friday morning!

I was glued to it the whole time. It’s a masterpiece.

Clearly the lack of a 5 or 10-minute intermission is a huge mistake, based on the many opinions and reviews so far.

I feel the same. It’s not his best but I’ll still watch it so early. AMC in NY is typically 25 minutes of trailers and ads. I’ve got it down to a science to get there just as movie starts. No Nicole Kidman for me thank you. Sorry about the streak of audience bad behavior you experienced. Let me know what movie you’ll see next cause that’s where I’m not going, lol. I guess it’s all roll of the die because I watch a lot of movies in NY and somehow worst is snoring or banging on the back of my seat, I just plain lucked out so far. It’s disappointing projections are only 30 million domestic. Just shows how much of an outlier Oppenheimer is.

The greatest living director. Even an underrated film like Shutter Island that doesn’t get talked about enough is still better than most filmmakers best films

It LOOKS like it could crack my top 10 Scorsese and it does have both De Niro and Dicaprio but I'll see. Eager to see it

Sad that a legend like Scorsese does not have the backing of the studios after all he’s done for the industry & his body of work.

I will watch this movie, but only after I read the book, and once the film goes to digital and/or DVD. I agree with James about the trailers. I went almost 10 years without seeing a movie at the theatre (2010 - 2021). From Avatar (at second-run cinema) to Dune. At Dune, I was dismayed to sit for 30 minutes through trailers of movies there was no chance I would see - at all. I now call the theatre to discover the real start time of the film.

Excited for this movie

Great review! I totally agree. The Goodfellas reference is brilliant. I didn't notice that one. I noticed the Al Capone reference though. The shaving scene....

They need theatres you could smoke weed in for movies this long imo.

This is a film that’s gonna stay with me for some time. The 3.5 hr run time will be polarizing but I think that’s part of the immersive experience when Molly talked about shutting up and listening to the storm. Martin consistently makes one thing clear, evil white men looking to rob you are in no short supply. Who are the thieves? ALL of the people working with the Osage. This is an “Eat the rich” flick and roles are reversed.There’s a lot of subtext about “work” vs “lazy.” Think about how gratuity is respected or lack there of. Notice in the back drop, guys covered in oil, ranchers, drivers…all grimy. Themes of Class warfare. Then there’s the bureau. I loved the line where the Osage elder said, “You’re only here because we paid you $20K…” which by today’s cost of living, what is that something like $10M? More? Once again, people don’t respect each other…they respect money. At the end of the film, Hollywood has the story which somehow people are continuing to make money off the Osage. The Osage, they have each other. Driving home the point, money is the root of all evil. Then again, that’s America.

They should show trailers after the credits for the people that want to see them. I think I need to watch this one a couple more times to give my final assessment of if it is good or great.

Such great and beautiful movie. Love it.

I remember watching gone with the wind at the movies. I also remember that the film had an interval. Films going 3+ hrs need to bring that back.

I have to disagree a bit because I thought Brendan Frazier was actually very good and the second he came on scene it really lifted the energy of the movie for me. I also thought DeNiro was in rare form, without him this movie isn’t great. This was a surprisingly good movie for me. I never thought “this is too long” while watching it. It unfolded brilliantly for me and the last hour I felt myself really into it despite dealing with a bunch of idiots who kept talking during the movie. So same as you I wished I’d had a better theater experience. I will definitely rewatch this at some point without distractions and see how I feel a second time around. My only negatives were some poor acting. One of the Chiefs on the counsel was kind of dreadful and every time he spoke I felt myself cringe. I thought the sister who was killed was way over the top, didn’t like her at all. The main henchmen I also thought wasn’t very good initially but he seemed to have better scenes later on. This was just a really good movie for me. It felt like it used to feel when I would go to the movies and be entertained and forget about the bullshit going on in the world for a few hours. Good review sir

Thanks for the review James, however, my favorite movie Length is 90 minutes. Anything over 2 1/2 hours I approach with caution. My favorite movie over 3 hours is The Green Mile @3.09😊 My favorite Scorsese film is Goodfellas. I don’t like westerns and you make some of the acting you describe sounds mediocre. Yes, I keep hearing cable is dead and streaming is the way of the future, however with all those platforms, monthly bills could easily rival premium cable. Love your enthusiasm, as always.

So this film is worth seeing. Is Leonardo DiCaprio do a great performance?

A definite watch for me I had imagined it being a long one I look forward to stocking up on snacks and riding this one out

Feel like I've taken crazy pills.This is poorly paced and structured The acting is good; but the direction; composit8n and rhythm is numbingAnd tge ending is a buzarre betrayal of the audience via camp and white guilt .Off to the store now to get chow for this pup Ive been sold😮

I think you make many good points but I can't let you insult Brendan Fraser (it's pronounced Fray-zer, like phraser) he acted EXACTLY the way that defense attorney acted in real life. Fraser's performance was excellent.

Please do a video on how Apple measures success. That would be cool.

Missed the opportunity for a Dances with Wolves comparison on the runtime bud. 😉

James you and deepfocuslense (Maggie?) are some of the more nuanced reviewers.

Book is fabulous and I can’t wait to see the film. But at over 3 hours I will watching at on home when it comes out on Apple

It reminded me of Goodfellas set in 1920's

14:06 same! I went to the movie hungover this morning

Wouldn't it be interesting to see a version where DiCaprio and Plemmons swap roles?

Your right James Seven Samurai is one of the best movies ever made

I just tried watching this film and I was BORED out of my mind!

“Killers of the Flower Moon” is a good film, but not a great film. I don’t think it should win Best Picture of the Year. That honor belongs to “Oppenheimer.”

Great review, James. Just got back from a matinee, and yes, I looked at my watch more than once. Agree that it is overlong, and those expecting the gleeful bad boy energy of Goodfellas and Wolf will be very disappointed. This film is centered on some venal and murderous hypocrites, which might try the patience of many. I think it is going take awhile to fully appreciate this film, but there's no faulting Scorsese's talents as a film maker at an age when many of the greatest directors were burned out and put out to pasture.

This is the second time I heard that someone was drunk in the audience. When we went there was also a drunk couple talking and giggling throughout the film. My spouse went to get someone to have them lower their voice. We wanted to avoid going off on them. Maybe it's knowing the film is three hours. I dunno. I give the film a 3.5 out of 5. I think Brandon was acting like the over the top lawyers did back then.

This film has Scorsese's gangster film style which makes fans of the genre enjoy it more.

I had to use the restroom for about two hours but I couldn't get up and miss 3 minutes.

any idea on the filmmakers next project?

I loved The Irishman but this movie here in Australia is only rated M. I thought it be more violent. It seems to not be as violent as The Irishman, am i wrong?

Even the greatest as they age will drift towards senility.

Hated this film. Very disrespectful to the Osage Nation as the story is never shown from there perspective. Nor are questions answered that leaves a very unfulfilled feeling after a 3.5 hour slog. Believe me, it feels every bit of that 3.5 hours. I like Martin Scorsese films but not all of them. I don't schill for directors and actors as they're human like the rest of us.

The script was boring even for TV

I hated the irishman. So long and tideous

I liked this movie and it was good but why does it have to be almost 4 hours long. Wtf. With the previews I was in the theater for over 4 hours. Someone add me to the employees payroll too for being there half a day.

BUTCHER’S CROSSING WAS WAY BETTER THAN KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON

Agreed 100% on Brendan Fraser; he was horrible and took me completely out of the film when he came in.

The bloated runtime is indicative of this confused mash-up of one brilliantly relaxed, understated supporting cast, well aware of the appropriate scale and scope of the true story they are telling, juxtaposed against the jarring cinematic ambitions of star (and executive producer) Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert DeNiro, and Scorsese himself, who seem to think they are making a Lawrence of Arabia or Ben-Hur-level of epic film (or even one of Scorsese's own gang/crime epics). In its vain attempt to reach the heights of True epic status, "Killers of the Flower Moon" manages to hammer another nail into the coffin of epic Hollywood filmmaking, which has been coughing up blood since the early 2000's. Get our full take here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-0XVt_xuVtyU.html

I've no interest in this movie but I'm glad that Marty is still making movies.

Listening to 10 minutes of a review of a movie, complaining about the length of a movie....the irony is rich. Beat it bud

He missed the mark on this one. 😬

Absolutely cannot understand your thinking on de niros performance. Its easily his best since heat. Movie acting is not about the accuracy of an accent its about the honesty and substance of the performance. He sells a complex individual with so much depth. With respect to you, you do not appear to understand acting. They are not impressionists, they are acting emotions

It’s was an ok movie. Slow and not intense. Soundtrack… none

Yeah for the 3.5 hour thing I dunno like I can watch a Tarkovsky movie and I'm in for 3+ hours but I watched Avatar Way of Water and I was so bored and I wanted it to end. Scorsese has got this I think but I'm definitely taking your advice not to go into this wasted or tired or whatever. Can't wait!

Agreed Watch Trailers on your own time.

I've never got the love for George of the jungle. I'm looking forward to this one nice review

30 minutes of trailers?!

I’m going to see it in the theater to help Marty fight to save cinema