Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)
A nice layup from Scorsese but no slam dunk.
Presentation:
The film was shot on film and Sony Venice with anamorphic and beautifully shot. Sets are well designed are extremely convincing of the era. As this is a Martin Scorsese production, the main highlight of these film will not be the frames, but the storytelling. Like most Scorsese films, the film has gangster elements and does not shy away from violence in the slightest. It is by no means a particularly violence focused film but there are definitely some Taratino moments. Over 3 hours long, Scorsese allows ample character and world building, a bit too much with the film really starting perhaps 40 minutes in. The performance from DiCaprio and De Niro are notable and exceptionally ambiguous and realistically deceptive. Similar to The Irishman, the movie doesn't give you anything, doesn't tell you how to feel nor how to judge, but simply portrays the story in it's most pure rendering.
Conclusion:
Scorsese is one of the most refreshing storytellers in our increasingly trite narrative landscape. There are few films where you want the protagonist to fall and this navigates the subversion masterfully. It is a true character study and portrayal of the rotten/hypocritical side of humanity. Worth a watch if you have 3 hours to spare but not as compelling as other scripts.
Recommendations
One does not simply get revenge on Billy the Butcher.