For the month of March, the Criterion Collection have added more releases to their vast catalog of movies. On the new additions is Martin Scorsese’s 2023 epic drama movie Killers of the Flower Moon. Based on the true crime book of the same name, the movie received critical acclaim when released in late 2023. Now two years later, the movie has finally received a physical release from the Criterion Collection.
The Movie
The three main stars of the movie (L to R): Lily Gladstone, Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio
Based on a true story, Killers of the Flower Moon is a sprawling epic about the Osage murders. Set in Oklahoma in 1919, the movie tells the story of Ernest Burkhart (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his uncle William King Hale (Robert De Niro). After coming back from World War I, Ernest plans to live with his uncle and brothers on the reservation ranch owned by Hale. Hale, however, has a plan up his sleeve: aware of the wealth the Osage people hold in oil headrights, Hale encourages his nephews to marry into the Osage families. In doing so, this sets Hale’s plan into motion.
There’s a lot to be appreciated about this movie. First off, the cinematography and clothing design are fantastic. It looks believable and the sets look like they’re lived in. Then there’s the acting, which is excellent. DiCaprio and De Niro give good performances, with DiCaprio being the stronger of the two. DiCaprio is able to capture the complexities of good hearted but dimwitted Burkhart. De Niro is also good, showing how a charmful man can live a double life. Of the actors in this movie, it’s Lily Gladstone’s portrayal as Mollie Kyle that stands out the most. Her performance carries the weight of this movie. With each event that happens in the movie, Gladstone’s shines in showcasing the grief Mollie carries.
The movie also has a strong score, composed by the late Robbie Robertson. Robertson’s western yet country flavored score adds to the emotion felt throughout the movie. Robertson passed in August 2023, just months before the movie was releases. Being a long time collaborator for Scorsese’s movies, the movie was dedicated to Roberson. His score would receive many posthumous nominations come the awards season.
Killers of the Flower Moon isn’t without its downsides. For one thing, the movie is extremely long. With a runtime of three and a half hours, it’s a lot to get though. There are a few scenes that could’ve been cut shorter or left out, especially towards the end of the movie. Even then, there’s a strength to be found in the movie’s runtime: it’s an experience watching this movie, seeing the story unfold.
Bonus Features
There is a second disc of special features. They are as follows:
– Killers of the Flower Moon: A Historic Collaboration– new feature on the making of the movie w/ the cast and others
– WahZhaZhe– new feature about the people who appear during the movie’s final scene
– excerpt from the Dolby Creator Talk podcast with cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto
– excerpts from the 2023 Cannes Film Festival press conference
– a short feature about the cover art for the Criterion release
– trailer
The top four features range from 24 to 36 minutes each. The rest are less than five minutes.
The Historic Collaboration feature is about both the movie and the murders while WahZhaZhe is more about the history behind the people in the last scene. These are the two features (along with the cover art short) that feel like they were made for the Criterion release. They are both well done and give more insight to the movie.
Conclusion
Overall, Criterion’s release of Killers Of The Flower Moon is another great release from company. The movie itself is great while the bonus features are well made. Along with this, there is a colorful booklet that features essays from critic Vinson Cunningham and film programmer Adam Piron. If you enjoyed this movie when it first came out, this release will deepen your appreciation.
Movie Rating: 8/10
Release Rating: 7/10
I'm a writer/journalist with a passion for music and pop culture. Having graduated from King's College in Wilkes-Barre, PA in 2014, I've been looking for a platform in which I can share my passions. Since 2009, I've been posting to my own blog- The Walrus' Music Blog- via Blogger. I'm also the author of two self-published books, "The Camp: Stories from the Summer" and "The College: Stories from King's." Together, the two books cover the story of my life from 2004 to 2014. I've been lucky enough to interview several of my favorite musicians over the years and go to concerts from time to time. I'm also very devoted to the CBS reality TV show Survivor, which I started watching in 2002 when its fourth season started. I currently live in New Jersey.