Martin Scorsese’s new film, Killer of the Flower Moon, brings together some of his old collaborators and exciting new faces to tell a terrifying true story. Based on the book of the same name by David Grann, the film is set in the 1920s when immense amounts of oil were discovered under Osage lands, making the tribe the richest per capita in the world. What seemed like a divine gift soon turned out to be a curse as a series of brutal murders began to sweep through the tribe.
The book is a look at the worst of humanity, exposing how the greed of privileged men decimated one of the most traditional Native American tribes in the Midwest. Audiences are excited about Scorsese’s new film because it has everything it needs to be powerful: The director has already brought epic true stories to the big screen with Raging Bull and The Irishman, and Killers of the Flower Moon’s are star-studded. points to a difficult new masterpiece.
Leonardo DiCaprio as Ernest Burkhart
Perhaps the biggest change between the book and the film is Scorsese’s decision to center the story around two antagonists, allowing Leonardo DiCaprio to shine in one of the lead roles. He plays Ernest Burkhart, an outspoken ally of the Osage tribe who marries Mollie, one of their leading community figures. Yet behind the facade of a caring husband and capable father hides a fragile man, betrayed by his uncle, who welcomes him into their home and takes everything from him.
Scorsese and DiCaprio are longtime collaborators, having worked together on other successful true stories like The Aviator, The Departed and The Wolf of Wall Street. DiCaprio received his first Oscar nomination at age 19 for What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, followed by five other nominations for acting. He finally won a well-deserved Best Actor statuette for The Revenant, in which he played a leading man walking through hell to survive wounded and alone in the desert.
William K. Robert De Niro as Hal
William Hale is the main antagonist of the Killers of the Flower Moon, a dastardly businessman with enough power and influence to hatch a sinister plot against the Osage Nation to steal their wealth and land. Robert De Niro is a familiar face in Scorsese films as the two have worked together since their early years.
De Niro starred in Scorsese’s impeccable 70s to 80s streak, including Taxi Driver, That Kind of Comedy and Raging Bull, the latter of which earned him an Oscar for his portrayal of legendary American boxer Jake LaMotta. Active in the film industry since the ’60s, De Niro has taken on a series of iconic roles such as Don Vito Corleone in The Godfather: Part II, Neil McCauley in Heat and, most recently, Murray Franklin in Joker.
Lily Gladstone as Mollie Burkhart
While there are several different storylines going on at once in Killers of the Flower Moon, Mollie Burkhart is undeniably the soul of the film. A member of a traditional Osage family (and one of the wealthiest), Mollie watches as her close friends and relatives are killed one by one, unaware that her husband is a key player in the Osage murders.
She is played by Lily Gladstone, who received unanimous praise and prolonged acclaim at the film’s premiere at Cannes 2023. Gladstone rose to prominence with her supporting role in the highly acclaimed First Cow, directed by Kelly Reichardt, with whom she had previously worked. certain women. Gladstone’s role in Killers of the Flower Moon represents a pivotal moment in her career, as the actress was considering quitting acting before requesting a Zoom call with Scorsese.
Tantu Cardinal as Lizzie Q
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Lizzie Q, Mollie’s mother and one of the prominent members of the Osage Nation who becomes the victim of a series of murders, is played by Tantu Cardinal. Lizzie is the head of the family and one of the few Osage in the tribe who still fully embraces the tradition. Cardinal may sound familiar to many: She’s been breaking Native American stereotypes in the entertainment industry since the ’70s, landing several television roles over the decades and starring in films like Legends of the Fall, Dances with Wolves, and Wind River Still working.
Jesse Plemons as Tom White
Tom White, the lead FBI investigator in the Osage murders, is played by Jesse Plemons. While Killers of the Flower Moon is primarily about a disturbing conspiracy targeting the Osage and their fate, it also follows the birth of the FBI as it is currently known. After years of appalling negligence in the investigation and body count, the Osage case has highlighted the importance of a federal institution dealing with such sensitive matters. In this context, it is Tom White who is responsible for carrying out the dreaded investigation.
Plemons rose to fame after his evil role as Todd in Breaking Bad, landed a starring role on the anthology show Fargo, and launched a memorable film career. He also starred in films such as Vice, I’m Thinking of Ending Things and The Power of the Dog, which earned him his first Oscar nomination. This isn’t the actor’s first time working with Scorsese; He played Chuckie O’Brien in The Irishman.
Brendan Fraser as W. S. Hamilton
WS Hamilton, William K. Hale’s ruthless lawyer, played by Brendan Fraser in a rare villainous role. Actor best known for starring in The Mummy franchise as Rick O’Connell, appearing in three films. While Fraser is known for a wide range of spectacular films, including Journey to the Center of the World and Inkheart, he has also appeared in major Oscar contenders such as Crash and most recently The Whale, a moving drama by Darren Aronofsky. Are. Fraser received critical acclaim after years under the industry radar; In the end, he won an Oscar for his performance.
John Lithgow as Prosecutor Leeward
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John Lithgow reprized the role of District Attorney Leeward in The Killers of the Flower Moon. The actor is a television veteran, best known for his roles as Arthur Mitchell, or the Trinity Killer, in Dexter, arguably the most memorable antagonist of the series, and Winston Churchill in the Netflix drama The Crown. Starring in such popular films as Interstellar, Rise of the Planet of the Apes and Blow Out, Lithgow is a familiar face on the big screen as well. The actor achieved widespread recognition in the ’80s and earned two Oscar nominations for The World As Garp and Terms of Endearment.
Jason Isbell as Bill Smith
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Bill Smith is one of the few trusted white men close to the Osage, which makes him an enemy of the aboriginal killers. He is played by Jason Isbell, famous for his work outside the film industry: Isbell is a talented singer-songwriter and guitarist who has won four Grammy Awards. He was one of the main contributors to the A Star Is Born soundtrack, which also features other big names like Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper. While Isbell has appeared in TV shows before, Killers of the Flower Moon marks her first episodic role on the big screen.