Since his beginnings, Martin Scorsese tells us about America, but a parallel America, that of the marginalized, the mobsters, the immigrants... At 80 years old, he is interested, with "Killers of the Flower Moon", presented Saturday in Cannes out of competition, in a part of the history of his country rather unknown. It concerns the Osage, Indians who became rich at the beginning of the twentieth century, which did not prevent them from collapsing under misfortunes by the faults of whites. This incredible story, the filmmaker transforms it into a thriller to lead to a film-river of 3h26, as colossal as moving.
In the 1920s, the Osage, parked in Oklahoma, discovered oil on their land and became so rich that they employed whites in their service. Ernest (Leonardo DiCaprio), back from the Great War, comes to look for work on their land where his uncle, the imposing William Hale (Robert De Niro), lives in good harmony with the Osage, whose language he learned. But Hale secretly devised a system for scooping up the wealth of these somewhat naïve natives: having the daughters of oil landowners married by men in his family, in order to inherit them when they died.
However, they die a lot, these Osage girls, which will discover Ernest, driver of the beautiful Mollie who will eventually marry him. It is even a bloody hecatomb, in which the young husband participates to, again and again, satisfy his uncle ...
It is difficult to summarize the multiple plots of a feature film of more than three hours, to which the only complaint that can be made is precisely its length — it would probably have deserved 30 minutes, and a few repetitions — less. For the rest, Scorsese proves, after his "The Irishman" a little too heavy for Netflix in 2019, that he remains a fiery filmmaker, immense and attentive to denounce the historical failings of his country.
One of DiCaprio's finest roles
For "Killers of the Flower Moon," the director switched streaming platform, as Apple TV+ co-produced it. Originally intended for the platform only, Apple has decided to release it in theaters on October 18, 2023: an excellent idea as the work requires viewing on the big screen, to grasp its magnitude.
A mind-boggling story that shows how whites participated in the massacre of natives, breathtaking images, staggering shots, infernal rhythm... Master Scorsese makes us one of those cinematographic totals of which he has the secret. And, as always, takes care of his direction of actors that he takes very far in their compositions. In this game, the winner is Leonardo DiCaprio, phenomenal in his interpretation of a benet dragged on the path of crime by an excruciatingly manipulative uncle while he is really in love with his beautiful Indian: one of his most beautiful roles, which he holds from start to finish.
In front of him, De Niro simply succeeds in a formidable incarnation of evil, as a powerful landowner who plays with sympathy to hide his bloodthirsty ambitions. Not to mention Lily Gladstone, magnificent in the role of Molly, this native who shines by her determination and dignity, which she will pay dearly. In the end, we can thank them all, Scorsese in the lead, for this production as huge as it is stirring, generous and denouncing: a very great film about America.
Editor's note:
4/5
"Killers of the Flower Moon", American historical thriller by Martin Scorsese, with Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Lily Gladstone, Jesse Plemons... (3h26). Released on October 18.