A WEEKLY FILM NEWSLETTER PROMOTING ARTHOUSE, REPERTORY, ART, SHORT FORM AND EXPERIMENTAL CINEMA SCREENING IN THE CITY OF MELBOURNE

19 Oct 2013

KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON

Martin Scorsese, 2023

Screening at both multiplex and arthouse screens throughout Melbourne

DCP Courtesy: Paramount

Classification: MA15+

Words by Andrew Fraser

Killers of the Flower Moon is the latest feel-bad American epic from the great Martin Scorsese, opening to much anticipation after the prolific filmmaker’s longest period without the release of a feature film (only four years – no mean feat for an octogenarian). The much beloved Scorsese, in recent interviews, has expressed a growing sense of urgency as he faces the final act of his career, and his unstoppable energy fuels the endlessly watchable three-and-a-half-hour parable that illuminates one of the darkest periods in American history.

Based on the non-fiction novel of the same name by David Grann, Killers… tells the harrowing tale of the conspiracy that led to the deaths of countless Native Americans at the hands of white Americans during the 1920s. Prior to the series of murders, the Osage Tribe had become some of the wealthiest people in America, when the thought-to-be barren reservation to which the nation were displaced was discovered to be rich in oil. As the Osage began to flaunt their newfound wealth with decadent homes, opulent clothing and personal chauffers, they quickly became targeted by those looking to cash in and obtain the power the Osage gained in a unique racial role-reversal for the period.

One such person is Ernest Burkhart (Leonardo DiCaprio), who returns to the mean streets of Oklahoma following his military service in the first World War. Burkhart is the nephew of powerful cattle rancher William Hale (Robert DeNiro), whom Ernest and other subjects affectionately call ‘King’. Hale, all mid-western charm with the integrity of a toothpick, quickly tries to find a place where the naive Burkhart can be of value to him, and he finds this when Ernest’s reveals his growing attraction to one of the notable indigenous women of the town - Mollie Kyle (Lily Gladstone.) Hale seizes the opportunity for his family to secure access to Mollie’s wealth, quietly deploying the hapless Ernest (among others) to insert himself into the lives of the Osage, with the intention of gaining control of their funds by any means necessary.

Mollie, as with all the wealthy Osage, must have a white guardian acting on her behalf to obtain her own money and she, like her three sisters, recognises that this guardian can be easily found in a white husband. Mollie immediately spots Ernest’s desire for her money, but his charming forwardness and her cunning lights the spark of their initial flirtation, the genuine attraction between the two causing a conflict for both parties - Mollie’s awareness of the risk that marriage to a white man proports given the growing death rates among her people and Ernest’s own tug of war between his genuine love for his soon-to-be wife and his loyalty to his nefarious uncle. The saga that unfolds is a spellbinding and often distressing account of the all-consuming corruptive force that is the need for power, as the web weaved by William Hale begins to wrap its violent knots around each of the townsfolk of Fairfax.

In a well-documented deviation from the source material, Scorsese’s adaptation of Killers (co-written by Eric Roth) moves the focus of the story from the investigation of the Osage murders to the events occurring as the murders took place, the police procedural elements of the film not beginning until the final hour of the film. The director, and his star/producer DiCaprio, instead wanted to focus on the marriage of Ernest and Mollie, using the complex relationship between the pair as the canvas for conveying the enormity of the betrayal and deception inflicted upon the Indigenous communities of the time (and the continued neglect and harm inflicted upon Native Americans still today.) No secret is made of who is committing foul play against the Osage tribe, and the internal power struggle between Burkhart and the murderous mastermind Hale drive Scorsese’s film to a riveting effect. However, the true soul of the film lies with Lily Gladstone’s astounding portrayal of Mollie.

Mollie is a unique creation by the actress and her director, and the relentless heartbreak experienced by the character introduces a new dynamic to Scorsese’s more familiar territory of the ‘bad men doing bad things’ genre. Whilst Mollie runs the gamut of every immense emotion from rage to grief to flirtation to fear, Gladstone never oversteps in her performance, finding a taught emotional throughline for Mollie despite the enormity of her journey. Gladstone, building upon her acclaimed work with directors including Kelly Reichardt, has a stillness and power behind the eyes that would make Dreyer swoon. It’s easy to see why a cinema enthusiast like Scorsese cast her, framing her with such respect for her singular presence as a performer. When Mollie is missing from stretches of the film, her absence is felt, and one does wish the narrative was perhaps more structured to reveal more of her perspective. Another director may have likely told the story from Mollie’s point of view, but Scorsese has his own ingenious ways of recentering Mollie’s heartbreaking story and Gladstone movingly fills any gaps she sees with her self-assured work.

Alongside the excellent cast, the craftspeople of Killers… deliver some of the defining work of their careers. Long-time Scorsese regular, editor Thelma Schoonmaker keeps the film moving at breakneck speed, with genuinely surprising cuts that display her long evident gift of rhythm and pacing. She is assisted by a memorably tense score from the late Robbie Robertson, which compliments the soaring, painterly images of cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto. Prieto, who also shot Barbie, is having a banner year. The intricate production design by the legendary Jack Fisk and costumes by Jacqueline West are superbly detailed, supporting the vivid portrait Scorsese paints of this specific moment in time. The film’s style draws upon the style of great Westerns from John Ford and Howard Hawks, but Scorsese brings his usual flair and freedom, always managing to experiment and break the narrative forms within the picture (the extensive running time does allow room for this.)

Killers of the Flower Moon is another brilliant work in the filmography of one the few American masters still working today. It is admirable to see a filmmaker unafraid to shy away from difficult material, or stories that, on paper, he may not be the obvious choice to tell that story. However, he tells this tale the only way he can – with immense confidence, rhapsodic stylistic flourishes and a painfully critical look at the broken, blackened heart that beats for America.

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WEEKLY FILM LISTINGS

September Oct 19 - October 25

ACMI

FOCUS ON TODD HAYNES

Carol

Todd Haynes, 2015

Screening Fri, Sat, Sun

Dark Waters

Todd Haynes, 2019

Screening Fri 20 Oct

Far from Heaven

Todd Haynes, 2002

Screening Sat 21 Oct

Velvet Goldmine

Todd Haynes, 1998

Screening Sat 21 Oct

Velvet Goldmine

Todd Haynes, 1998

Screening Sun 22 Oct

Safe

Todd Haynes. 1995

Screening Sun 22 Oct

ACMI + MIFF Encore Screenings

Monolith

Matt Vesely, 2022

Screening Fri 20 Oct

ARTIST FILM WORKSHOP

No screenings this week

ASTOR CINEMA

Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour

Sam Wrench, 2023

Screening Daily from Fri - Mon

Killers of the Flower Moon

Martin Scorsese, 2023

Screening Daily

Beautiful Dark - The Music of Twin Peaks

Performance

+

Mulholland Drive

David Lynch, 2021

Performance and screening on Sat 21 Oct

Behind the Haystacks (Greek Film Festival)

Asimina Proedrou, 2022

Screening Thurs 19 Oct

BBBC CINEMA (GALLERYGALLERY BRUNSWICK)

Closed until summer

THE CAPITOL

No Screenings this Week

CHINATOWN CINEMA

Under the Light

Yi-Mou Zhang, 2023

Screening Daily

The Creator

Gareth Edwards, 2023

Screening Daily

Moscow Mission

Herman Yau, 2023

Screening Daily

The Ex-files 4: Marriage Plan
Tian Yu Sheng, 2023
Screening Daily

CINÉ-CLUB (Carlton)

Re-opening soon

CINEMANIACS (ACMI)

No screening this week

CINEMA NOVA

Monster Fest

See Program Here

Italian Film Festival

See Program Here

Previews

Slant

James Vinson, 2022

Screening Fri and Mon

Foe

Garth Davis, 2023

Screening Tues 24 Oct

The Killer

David Fincher, 2023

Screening Wed 25 Oct

General Release

Killers of the Flower Moon

Martin Scorsese, 2023

Screening Daily

Rotting in the Sun

Sebastián Silva, 2023

Screening Daily

Disconnect Me

Alex Lykos, 2023

Screening Daily

The Origin of Evil

Sébastien Marnier, 2022

Screening Daily

Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour

Sam Wrench, 2023

Screening Fri, Sat, Sun

Lie with Me

Olivier Peyon, 2023

Screening Daily

The Crime is Mine

Francois Ozon, 2023

Screening Daily

Sick of Myself
Kristoffer Borgli, 2022
Screening Daily

Shayda

Noora Niasari, 2023

Screening Daily

Cobweb
Kim Jee-woon, 2023
Screening Daily

Past Lives

Celine Song, 2023

Screening Daily

A Haunting In Venice
Kenneth Branagh, 2023
Screening Daily

Theater Camp
Molly Gordon & Nick Lieberman, 2023
Screening Daily

Asteroid City
Wes Anderson, 2023
Screening Daily

Talk To Me
Danny and Michael Philippou, 2023
Screening Daily

Barbie
Greta Gerwig, 2023
Screening Daily

Oppenheimer
Christopher Nolan, 2023
Screening Daily

DOGMILK DEGUSTATIONS: @ Miscellenia

Stay tuned for details on Season 3.

FRENCH FILM CLUB

No screening this week

GAY24

No screening this week

HITLIST (9 Gertrude St, Fitzroy)

No screening this week

LIDO / CLASSIC / CAMEO

Jewish Film Festival

See Program Here

Killers of the Flower Moon

Martin Scorsese, 2023

Screening Daily

Rotting in the Sun

Sebastián Silva, 2023

Screening Daily

The Origin of Evil

Sébastien Marnier, 2022

Screening Daily

Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour

Sam Wrench, 2023

Screening Fri, Sat, Sun

Lie with Me

Olivier Peyon, 2023

Screening Daily

The Crime is Mine

Francois Ozon, 2023

Screening Daily

Sick of Myself
Kristoffer Borgli, 2022
Screening Daily

Shayda

Noora Niasari, 2023

Screening Daily

The Creator

Gareth Edwards, 2023

Screening Daily

A Haunting In Venice
Kenneth Branagh, 2023
Screening Daily

Scrapper
Charlotte Regan, 2023
Screening Daily

It Lives Inside

Bishal Dutta, 2023
Screening Daily

Theater Camp
Molly Gordon & Nick Lieberman, 2023
Screening Daily

Biosphere
Mel Eslyn, 2022
Screening Daily

Ego: The Michael Gudinski Story
Paul Goldman, 2023
Screening Daily

Past Lives
Celine Song, 2023
Screening Daily

Blackberry
Matthew Johnson, 2023
Screening Daily

Asteroid City
Wes Anderson, 2023
Screening Daily

Talk To Me
Danny and Michael Philippou, 2023
Screening Daily

Barbie
Greta Gerwig, 2023
Screening Daily

Oppenheimer
Christopher Nolan, 2023
Screening Daily

THE MELBOURNE CINÉMATHÈQUE (ACMI)

Antes, O Verão
Gerson Tavares, 1968
Screening Wednesday 25 October 7pm
+
The Red Light Bandit
Rogério Sganzerla, 1968
Screening starts at 8:35pm

To be preceded by two shorts by the key woman filmmaker of the Cinema Novo movement: A Entrevista Helena Solberg (1966) 20 mins – Unclassified 15+; and Meio-dia Helena Solberg (1970) 10 mins – Unclassified 15+.

MELBOURNE HORROR FILM SOCIETY

No screening this week

MELBOURNE UNIVERSITY: SCREENING IDEAS

No screening this week

PALACE BALWYN / BRIGHTON /COMO / KINO / PENTRIDGE / WESTGARTH

THE 2023 St ALI ITALIAN FILM FESTIVAL
Program Here

GREEK FILM FESTIVAL

See Program Here

Killers of the Flower Moon

Martin Scorsese, 2023

Screening Daily

The Origin of Evil

Sébastien Marnier, 2022

Screening Daily

Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour

Sam Wrench, 2023

Screening Fri, Sat, Sun

Lie with Me

Olivier Peyon, 2023

Screening Daily

The Crime is Mine

Francois Ozon, 2023

Screening Daily

Shayda

Noora Niasari, 2023

Screening Daily

The Creator

Gareth Edwards, 2023

Screening Daily

A Haunting In Venice
Kenneth Branagh, 2023
Screening Daily

Asteroid City
Wes Anderson, 2023
Screening Daily

Barbie

Greta Gerwig, 2023

Screening Daily

Ego: The Michael Gudinski Story

Paul Goldman, 2023

Screening Daily

Talk To Me
Danny and Michael Philippou, 2023
Screening Daily

Oppenheimer
Christopher Nolan, 2023
Screening Daily

SUN CINEMAS YARRAVILLE

Killers of the Flower Moon

Martin Scorsese, 2023

Screening Daily

The Origin of Evil

Sébastien Marnier, 2022

Screening Daily

Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour

Sam Wrench, 2023

Screening Fri, Sat, Sun

Lie with Me

Olivier Peyon, 2023

Screening Daily

The Crime is Mine

Francois Ozon, 2023

Screening Daily

Shayda

Noora Niasari, 2023

Screening Daily

The Creator

Gareth Edwards, 2023

Screening Daily

A Haunting In Venice
Kenneth Branagh, 2023
Screening Daily

Theater Camp
Molly Gordon & Nick Lieberman, 2023
Screening Daily

The Nun II
Michael Chaves, 2023
Screening Daily

Ego: The Michael Gundinski Story

Paul Goldman, 2023

Screening Daily

Past Lives

Celine Song, 2023

Screening Daily

THORNBURY PICTURE HOUSE

Killers of the Flower Moon

Martin Scorsese, 2023

Screening Daily

Rotting in the Sun

Sebastián Silva, 2023

Screening almost daily

Theater Camp
Molly Gordon & Nick Lieberman, 2023
Screening Sat 21 Oct

Past Lives

Celine Song, 2023

Screening Mon 23 Oct

Sick of Myself

Kristoffer Borgli, 2022

Screening Tue 24 Oct

Shayda

Noora Niasari, 2023

Screening Wed 25 Oct

UNKNOWN PLEASURES (BILL MOUSOULIS + CHRIS LUSCRI)

No screening this week