KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON opens October 20th
There comes a time in the long career of a revered filmmaker when critics and audiences begin to wonder if they still have what it takes to make magic on the big screen. However, in the case of Martin Scorsese, there is no question that – after nearly six decades in the business – the Academy Award® winner is just as sharp as ever, if not at his sharpest, which is why we are especially excited for KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON.
Before it becomes exclusively available to stream on Apple TV+ at a currently unspecified time, this 206-minute, historical crime drama will be coming to AMC Theatres this October. It was actually one of the studio’s most talked about upcoming titles at CinemaCon 2023. Prepare yourself for a cinematic legend’s return with the powerful story of KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON by checking out our guide to the highly anticipated release.
Leonardo DiCaprio Leads
Leonardo DiCaprio is working with Martin Scorsese for the sixth time, as executive producer and in the role of Ernest Burkhart – a white man married to an Osage tribeswoman who becomes a suspect in the murders of several Native Americans – according to Deadline. According to the same article, KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON will also mark the director’s tenth collaboration with two-time Oscar® winner Robert De Niro, who plays Burkhart’s uncle, cattleman William Hale. Surprisingly, this film marks the first time DiCaprio and De Niro have shared the screen in a feature film.
Lily Gladstone plays Ernest’s wife, Mollie, alongside recent Oscar nominee Jesse Plemons as FBI agent Tom White, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter. Recent Oscar winner Brendan Fraser also stars, as another Deadline article details, as well as John Lithgow, whose casting was also reported by the outlet. As seen on Apple’s official page for the film, the KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON cast also includes the likes of DANCES WITH WOLVES’ Tantoo Cardinal, “The Last of Us” guest star Scott Shepherd and country music stars Jason Isbell and Sturgill Simpson.
Based On A True Story
Martin Scorsese has directed many great films inspired by real events and real people. In fact, many of his biographical dramas – such as RAGING BULL, THE AVIATOR, or THE WOLF OF WALL STREET, to name just a few – are considered some of his finest achievements. Thus, he was a more than fitting choice to bring the story behind KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON to the big screen.
Based on the non-fiction book of the same name, which was published in 2017, the film takes place in the 1920s and focuses on the murders of many Osage Tribe members who had become wealthy after large deposits of oil were discovered under their land. The story also provides insight into the early days of the FBI, which had only recently been established as its investigation into these crimes began.
Directed By Martin Scorsese
In addition to being his latest historical drama, KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON also counts as the latest of many crime thrillers helmed by Scorsese, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Eric Roth and has a producing credit. In fact, for decades, the filmmaker was the go-to guy for hard-hitting urban thrillers like TAXI DRIVER, gangster movies like GOODFELLAS and attention-grabbing police stories like THE DEPARTED.
Of course, Scorsese has branched out into various other genres before, such as romance with 1974’s ALICE DOESN’T LIVE HERE ANYMORE, comedy (of a darker shade, to be fair) with THE KING OF COMEDY and horror, which many think his harrowing 1991 remake of CAPE FEAR deserves to be categorized as. He even made a family film in 2011 with the Oscar-winning HUGO, and his music documentaries – including THE LAST WALTZ, BOB DYLAN: NO DIRECTION HOME and the killer Rolling Stones concert captured in SHINE A LIGHT – are some of the most acclaimed of their kind.