In the realm of 2023’s cinema, few films have stirred as much anticipation and Academy Award buzz as Martin Scorsese’s latest creation, the Western crime drama, “Killers of the Flower Moon.” This cinematic masterpiece marks Scorsese’s sixth collaboration with the iconic Leonardo DiCaprio and his tenth joint endeavor with the legendary Robert De Niro.
Adapted from David Grann’s lauded 2017 non-fiction book, “Killers of the Flower Moon” unfolds the chilling account of a series of murders within the oil-rich Osage community in Osage County, Oklahoma, during the tumultuous 1920s. The narrative also delves into the subsequent federal investigation that unveiled a sinister conspiracy, driven by insatiable greed, to systematically annihilate the Osage people and seize their wealth.
Yet, while Scorsese and his dedicated screenwriter, Eric Roth, initially sought to honor both the book and the real-life historical events that inspired it, the course of the film’s extensive pre-production phase compelled them to make substantial script revisions. Their paramount goal was to shift the film’s perspective away from the investigative lens and into the hearts and minds of the perpetrators and their victims.
This pivotal decision has undeniably borne fruit, earning the film widespread acclaim, particularly for the stunning performance of Native actress Lily Gladstone, whose character benefited immensely from these script alterations.
No White Savior Narrative
Grann’s non-fiction book predominantly chronicled the Osage murders through the eyes of the investigation, primarily from the vantage point of lead FBI investigator Tom White. However, as previously mentioned, Scorsese diverged from this approach. He chose instead to immerse viewers in the experiences of the Osage characters, with a particular focus on Lily Gladstone’s character, Mollie Burkhart. Her marriage to Leonardo DiCaprio’s Ernest Burkhart serves as the linchpin of the film’s emotional core.
This pivotal shift was a result of consultations between Scorsese and DiCaprio, who both felt a deep-seated discomfort with the notion of recounting the Osage tragedy primarily through the perspective of a white character. Scorsese articulated his reasoning for the script changes:
“After a certain point, I realized I was making a movie about all the white guys. I was taking the approach from the outside in, which concerned me”.
The consequences of this transformation are profound. The film’s focus transitioned from the FBI’s investigation of the Osage murders, with Ernest and Mollie playing supporting roles, to placing Ernest and Mollie at the forefront. Their marriage, orchestrated by Ernest’s conniving uncle, Robert De Niro’s avaricious cattleman William Hale, becomes a central element of the narrative. Hale also masterminded the murders of Mollie’s entire tribal family, all in pursuit of life insurance policies and valuable oil head-rights.
In this new perspective, while the FBI investigation remains a parallel narrative track, much of the film’s suspense emanates from Mollie’s growing apprehension. As the last surviving member of her tribal family, she lives under the constant shadow of impending danger.
Leonardo DiCaprio’s Role Transformation
The script revisions were also shaped by Leonardo DiCaprio’s aversion to portraying a conventional hero in the film. Initially cast as FBI agent Tom White when he first joined the project in 2017, DiCaprio’s evolving artistic vision led to a pivotal role change during the rewriting process.
Consequently, the character of Tom White, originally conceived as the film’s central figure, transformed into a supporting role. This creative pivot allowed DiCaprio to assume the role of the morally ambiguous Ernest Burkhart, making him the film’s new leading character. Importantly, this shift in perspective enabled “Killers of the Flower Moon” to sidestep the well-worn trope of the “white savior” narrative, a primary concern for Scorsese in adapting the source material.
A Reign of Terror
Though the script modifications significantly reshaped the film’s narrative structure, the core facts underpinning the real-life saga remain consistent with Grann’s 2017 book. Between 1921 and 1925, approximately sixty wealthy Osage individuals vanished or met grisly fates. Their valuable oil-rich lands were inherited by court-appointed guardians, predominantly white local businessmen and lawyers, all led by the ruthless William Hale. Hale employed contract killers to eliminate the Osage people for their wealth, ultimately implicating himself and his associates in over twenty Osage murders.
By centering the narrative on Osage characters rather than the FBI investigation, Scorsese presents the harrowing plight of the Osage people in an intensely personal and evocative manner. The increased presence of Mollie Burkhart in the film embodies this approach, as she grapples with the brutal loss of her family and questions whether her husband’s love for her is genuine or if he would, if necessary, become her executioner.
Source: https://dominioncinemas.net
Category: MOVIE FEATURES
