Leonardo DiCaprio and Lily Gladstone. © 2023 Paramount Pictures, Apple Original Films / Apple Studios, Imperative Entertainment, Sikelia Productions, and Appian Way Productions. Directed by Martin Scorsese.
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Press Screening
Watched it in Dolby Cinema @ AMC Theaters Martin Scorsese is back once again to tell a tragic real-life story that shaped America from the 1910s to the 20s. Scorsese loves to elevate the cinema format and this time, he dials it up to one hundred. This is a monumental film that explores the representation of the Indigenous community and the tragedy of these murders through the eyes of Ernest Burkhart and Mollie Burkhart. Let's go back to Oklahoma and investigate the murders that are caused by an old white uncle. Story: At the turn of the 20th century, oil brought a fortune to the Osage Nation, who became some of the richest people in the world overnight. The wealth of these Native Americans immediately attracted white interlopers, who manipulated, extorted, and stole as much Osage money as they could before resorting to murder. People immediately complained about the long runtime of the film which clocks in at 3 hours and 26 minutes. I didn't feel like this film was that long, however, the pacing of this runs smoothly which gives that feeling of a two-hour film. All thanks to the fantastic editing done by Thelma Schoonmaker which made the scenes gripping yet engaging with some of the slowness in certain scenes and sequences. Plus, the parallel editing is very strong by cutting between the murders to the "peaceful" life of Ernest and Mollie is truly heartbreaking. There are moments in the editing that push you to see the horrors and truths of these murders while still presenting a normal life. The editing moments of each Indigenous death are very respectful and beautifully edited. It takes you into the moment of their death and sees their final moments before the film cuts back to reality. A lot of brilliant editing choices and Schoonmaker's editing still captivates every crucial moment that will impact the entire film till the final frame of the film. Uncovering the Osage story is a huge feat for Scorsese not only because you are telling one of the most important events in American history, but one of the most tragic events that affected Indigenous Americans forever. A heartbreaking story of love, betrayal, and truth. Screenwriters Eric Roth and Scorsese created a slick crafted screenplay that has weight and detail that make each scene vivid and emotional. There is a lot of character development within the film and for the first 45 minutes of the film, it's just straight pure character development within the first act. The relationship between Ernest Burkhart and Mollie Burkhart is very well constructed and engaging thanks to the incredible performances from Leonardo DiCaprio and Lily Gladstone. There were a lot of side characters in the film but each served its purpose while not staying overlong into the jam-packed story. The world-building of bringing the Osage story from text to the silver screen is also engaging and well-written. There is so much rich history behind the Osage Nation that the film wished could've had more screentime to dedicate that history. One element in the film that not a lot of people are talking about is the usage of Osage language. It's very effective in scenes that don't have subtitles and scenes with subtitles. Scorsese wants authenticity on-screen and subverts people's expectations of the usage of Osage language. Plus, the culture and the representation of Indigenous Americans are authentic and fresh to see on screen, especially in a big-budget studio film.
There is a lot going on in this film, however, the flow of the story is effective and it gives enough time for each act to tell certain events that connect to the overall story. Since this film was based on a book that focuses on both the Osage murders and the BOI investigation, having the Osage story being the main centerpiece of the film rather than the BOI investigation is a smart move. There's more going on with Mollie's life and her family being affected by the murders around her and Ernest, even though Ernest is the one who is part of the killings. The antagonist of the film who is behind the murders, William King Hale, played by Robert De Niro, was so ruthless and devious that I hated him by the end which worked based on how the character was written. Plus, De Niro's performance is fantastic and probably one of the best performances in his entire career. A lot of great things in the story that they managed to put into a three-hour epic film.
Martin Scorsese elevates his directing to another level with a grand scope of the true-life story while still being authentic and real. His vision of this historical story really captures the horrors and truth of these tragedies while still being not over the top with its violence. The violence presented here is realistic. Scorsese has moved away from the graphic violence in his crime films into a more suitable realistic view of violence while still presenting them as raw as possible. Scorsese really loves to make almost every screen very important while still keeping those scenes engaging and possibly thrilling. The way he captures the horrors of these murders is a bit haunting yet real and gripping. However, he still cares about the representation of Indigenous Americans on-screen which is the backbone of the story and it was told effectively. I really loved Scorsese's vision and direction of the film. It's authentic, doesn't sugarcoat the story, and creates a lot of themes that people will take away from. Some people will like it, others won't, yet everyone agrees that Scorsese pulled off a story in a huge scope that many directors won't take unless it's Scorsese. The performances are all fantastic from across the board. Lily Gladstone is the stand out of the film including Jesse Plemons as Tom White who is the BOI agent that solved the Osage murder case. It's funny to see Brendan Fraser here after he won his Oscar for The Whale. He was also great but he was in a very small role in the third act. The indigenous actors who played their respective roles are also fantastic including Cara Jade Myers who gave an amazing underrated performance for her character of Anna Brown. Once again, a lot of characters support the flow of the story but the three core actors of the film that played its respective characters, Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, and Lily Gladstone are all fantastic and I hope they each receive their Oscar nomination. The production of this film is masterfully crafted. Once again, the editing is very strong in this film with a lot of unique choices to keep the long story as engaging as possible while still being tense. The production design is flawless. Costumes look very vivid and unique to the Indigenous culture. The sets are incredible and detailed, especially with certain houses like Molly's House and Ernest's home. There is so much care behind the technical elements that it would take more hours to write this review. The cinematography is rich and I love the usage of brown and orange colors in this film. A lot of unique shots and interesting camera movements that captures the Scorsese style of filmmaking. The score is also fantastic with a lot of memorable songs, especially the final song which captures the heart of the Osage nation. Overall, the production and technical craft of this film is absolutely insane and rich. You can tell almost all of that 200 million dollar budget went on screen. It's insane how they pull America in the 1920s once again but with rich detail to feel like you are present in there. That's why people should appreciate more of the technical side of filmmaking because that's all the hard work on-screen by many people. While this film is very well executed in all of its departments, I still had some issues with the film. One of those flaws in this film would be the long runtime. Easily this film could've been cut out by a few scenes, including repetitive scenes that we know what's going to happen. While I respect the decisions that Scorsese and Schoonmaker made, I feel like they could've reduced some of the important scenes that feel redundant or even a bit out of place. Besides the runtime, one of the small controversies that it's only seemingly on film Twitter is the representation of Indigenous people. I'm not an indigenous person but as a Mexican-American filmmaker and critic, I can agree that the film was a bit more through the point of view of Ernest rather than Mollie. I wish we could've gotten more of Mollie's side of the murders rather than Ernest because Mollie is suffering not just the death of her community, but her family that she grew up with. I will give huge credit to Scorsese for tackling this kind of story through the perspective of an American but I wished it leaned more on the side of Mollie to make this film feel more personal. Still, Scorsese vision worked here and I was engaged throughout. A jam-packed yet well-paced film that has authenticity and representation, Killers of the Flower Moon is a fantastic feat of a film that will be looked at for many years to come. Martin Scorsese is truly one of the last few filmmakers who pushes the boundaries of cinema and brings rich stories that need to be told to see the reality of our world including connecting with today's conflicts. Enriching directing, flawless production work, fantastic performances, and a well-crafted screenplay that brings together a monumental film that explores truth, culture, and love. Now Playing Only in Theaters in IMAX and Dolby Cinema! Vizeit Score: "A"
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Copyright © 2023 Vizeit Reviews. All Rights Reserved. Review Written By: Everardo Garcia Jr. Editor In-Chief/Owner of Vizeit Reviews | (Chicago Indie Critics Member [CIC])
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© 2023 Cinema/Chicago.
Vizeit Reviews is in solidarity with SAG, however, SAG will allow film critics to continue their normal movie critiques as usual but with certain restrictions. [WGA has reached their deal with the AMPTP.]
Special Blog Preview
It's that time of season again in Chicago! The Chicago International Film Festival returns once again this October 11-22 with over 100 feature films and 60 short films presented during the festival. Films from all over the world including France, Mexico, Italy, Finland, Germany, Norway, China, South Korea, and more! Some of the most highly anticipated films will premiere at Chicago for the first time including world and U.S. premieres. This is probably one of the strongest lineups from any film festival this year and it's going to be massive. Some of these films will premiere at the iconic Music Box Theater and the Chicago History Museum. However, the main theater that Cinema/Chicago will host the festival will be the AMC NEWCITY 14 instead of the AMC River East 21. This is a bigger theater and the festival will host more films than ever before. I cannot wait to see these highly anticipated films from the festival and we will preview each film that Vizeit Reviews will try to watch and review during our time at the festival. Let's hop onto the CTA train and let's ride to the cinemas to see what films we may be watching this month! Anatomy of a Fall (Directed by Justine Triet) [Country: France] The highly anticipated Palme d'Or winning film will premiere in Chicago during the opening week of the film's theatrical release! The film follows a German writer who is arrested for murder for the killing of her husband on the outskirts of the snow. However, she has her blind child who can help her clear her name out in public before she gets convicted. However, complications start to arise with the relationship history between the writer and the husband. Mystery and thriller are some of my favorite genres in film and this film being set in a winter season will make this murder mystery more suspenseful. I heard amazing things from this film including Sandra Hüller's performance and the direction of the story. I predict this film will garner some high Oscar buzz including best picture and best actress. Specifically at the festival, I can see this film probably winning an acting award for Sandra Hüller. International films always bring something fresh to the table and this film is no different when it premieres at the festival this October 12th. The film will have a theatrical release the following day at select theaters with distribution by NEON. Fun fact, NEON has won every Palme d'Or award since Parasite. Be on the lookout for every NEON film coming out during the fall season. The Boy and the Heron (Directed by Hayao Miyazaki) [Country: Japan] Since his latest film The Wind Rises, Hayao Miyazaki and his production studio, Studio Ghibli, are back with their latest hand-drawn film, The Boy and the Heron. Claimed to be Miyazaki's last film (not anymore), this film explores personal conflicts, grief, and redemption throughout a magnificent journey between a boy and a heron. This is the long-awaited project that Miyazaki fans have been waiting for and a return to form for Studio Ghibli. Easily one of the most anticipated films of the festival and it's on the high radar for a nomination at next year's Oscars for best animated feature film. This is going to be very special for me because Ponyo is easily the best animated film of all time and Miyazaki is going to play with my emotions a lot when this film premieres on October 15th at the festival. GKids will distribute the film theatrically this December 8th in Digital and IMAX. Saltburn (Directed by Emerald Fennell) [Country: United Kingdom] After the Oscar-winning film Promising Young Woman, Emerald Fennell returns in a big way with her psychological spectacle thriller Saltburn. The film is filled with high-profile stars including Barry Keoghan, Jacob Elordi, Rosamund Pike, and Carey Mulligan. The film follows a college student who gets invited to Saltburn, an estate run by an eccentric family. Filled with parties, secrets, and chaos, the estate slowly unveils the truths behind the estate and the people behind it. This film reminds me of Babylon but this time, the students are the front and center of the story, living in England, and throwing parties until something disrupts the fun. The fun becomes the chaos and Fennell is not new with chaos and suspense in her writing and directing. Fennell explores deep themes and psychological behavior that reveal each person's flaws but also creates a personal story that will resonate with audiences in some way. Saltburn will premiere at the Music Box Theater this October 19th as the festival's centerpiece film with Fennell in attendance. She will be receiving the Visionary Award which is part of her tribute presentation. Amazon MGM Studios will distribute the film theatrically this November 17th in select cities and expand nationwide on November 22nd. American Fiction (Directed by Cord Jefferson) [Country: United States] An unexpected surprise at the Chicago International Film Festival after winning the People's Choice award at TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival). American Fiction is the latest buzziest film during the festival and awards season receiving critical acclaim. Not just critical acclaim but a huge shift during the awards season as it jumped onto many cinephiles and industry filmmakers' radars as one of their highly anticipated films of this season! The film follows a black writer who is fed up with the establishment that profits from Black entertainment that relies on tired and offensive tropes. To prove his point, he uses a pen name to write an outlandish Black book of his own, a book that propels him to the heart of hypocrisy and the madness he claims to disdain. This is a satirical dramatic film that explores the issues of Black entertainment and the racial issues presented in the media. With a star-studded cast led by Jeffrey Wright, this is surely going to be a blast! Will it lead to the Oscars? Well, let's find out when the film premieres in Chicago at the festival this October 16th. The film will be theatrically released by Orion Pictures (Amazon MGM Studios) with a limited release on December 15, followed by an expanding release on December 22. Hard Miles (Directed by RJ Daniel Hanna) [Country: United States] Probably a high radar within the festival, but Hard Miles will have its Chicago debut with the director, producer, and lead star in attendance. The film follows a social worker at a juvenile prison and assembles an unlikely cycling team of teenage convicts who must outride their pasts to complete a transformative 1000-mile ride. This is a mix of a coming-of-age story with sports drama that is fueled with tension throughout the film. There isn't a lot of coming-of-age sports film that deals with hardcore subjects and themes but Hard Miles proves that wrong and it's one of the biggest highlights prior to the festival. The film will premiere at the festival on October 21 with a second screening the day afterwards. No theatrical release date yet but potentially slating for a 2024 release by Blue Fox Entertainment. The Delinquents (Directed by Rodrigo Moreno) [Countries: Argentina, Luxembourg, Brazil, Chile] Straight out from its Cannes premiere, The Delinquents is no different film that will include heist elements that will sure grab some eyeballs. Plus, this is Argentina's official entry film submission to the 96th Academy Awards after the country's previous film Argentina, 1985 was nominated earlier this year. This film follows a Bank employee who schemes to steal enough money to never work again. However, he confesses the crimes and serves prison time while his colleague hides the cash. Soon under investigative pressure, his colleague meets a woman who creates tension which leads to love and trouble. The plot alone sold me alongside its brilliant trailer which reveals not a lot of information but the atmosphere really captures the film. Director Rodrigo Moreno will be in attendance at the festival on October 15 alongside a second screening the day afterwards. The film will be theatrically released by Mubi in North America with a limited release on October 18th. It will be later streamed exclusively on Mubi in the US and North America.
All Happy Families (Directed by Haroula Rose) [Country: United States]
The world premiere of a Chicago-based film will premiere no other than in the city where it was filmed. All Happy Families is a highly anticipated Chicago-based film that has a recognizable cast and it's executive produced by Illinois-raised actor and director, Michael Shannon. This film follows an aspiring actor who’s stuck in a funk and living in his family’s crumbling two-flat. When an old college crush comes looking to rent the first-floor apartment at the same time as his TV star brother returns home, he must finally grow up — if he can get out of his own way. This film will bring a lot of personal reactions to the city of Chicago with its plot and themes throughout the film. I worked with actors who want to become full-time actors but it takes a while to get there. Plus, you have personal problems blocking that goal which makes the journey much more difficult. This is a film that many Chicago and Illinois filmmakers should definitely watch including myself as a student filmmaker. The film will have its world premiere at the festival on October 12th with the director in attendance, alongside a second screening. No theatrical release date confirmed alongside with a distributor yet to be confirmed. The Zone of Interest (Directed by Jonathan Glazer) [Countries: United Kingdom, Poland, United States] One of the most anticipated A24 films of this year, The Zone of Interest is subverting many people's expectations and it has garnered critical acclaim throughout the year. Plus, the film won the Grand Prix and the FIPRESCI prize. A high radar for many cinephiles but why? The film follows the commandant of the Auschwitz concentration camp and his wife. They are striving to build a dream life for their family in a house and garden next to the camp with the horrors hidden from the entire family. This film will be different than other feature films this year because of its subject matter and how the film is presented. Jonathan Glazer knows how to make an audience feel disturbed by what's on screen but lets the audience analyze deeper within the ambiance rather than the literal image presented. This is a film that many people have been looking forward to and funny enough, Sandra Hüller is in this film. She also has another film coming out that will also premiere at the festival which is Anatomy of a Fall. Be on the lookout for this ambitious yet groundbreaking film when it premieres at the festival on October 18th with Christian Friedel in attendance. The film will be released by A24 on December 8th. Late Night with the Devil (Directed by Colin Cairnes, Cameron Cairnes) [Countries: United States, United Arab Emirates, Australia] Midnight films are back and one of those films has a lead Chicago-based actor who gets in trouble with the devil live on television. Late Night with the Devil stars David Dastmalchia as a late-night TV host who interviews a parapsychologist and the subject of her recent book, talks about a young teenager who was the sole survivor of a Satanic church's mass suicide. This is one of those films that won't hold back the horror elements and go full-out bonkers. This film definitely reminds me of Malignant mixed in with a Polish film called Prime Time. Even the poster gives a tease of the potential chaos that will happen on that studio set. Plus, having Dastmalchia as the lead role will make this film more chaotic and fun! I'm very excited to watch this when it premieres at the festival on October 15 with David Dastmalchia in attendance, followed by an encore screening on October 19. The film will be distributed by Cinetic Media with no release date yet to be confirmed. Green Border (Directed by Agnieszka Holland) [Countries: Poland, France, Czech Republic, Belgium] After winning the Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival, Green Border is making its Chicago debut and the film deals with a lot of heavy subjects including immigration and war. The film follows a Syrian family leaving their country due to the increase in violence. Their goal is to get from Belarus to Poland and finally to the safe haven of Sweden. But while traveling through the Polish-Belarusian border region, they become a political plaything instrumentalized both by the Polish government and the press for their own purposes. With the current war conflicts including the war between Israel and Hamas, this is a powerful film that explores the tragedies of the war by finding a different country to find livable peace. While this film has a lot of controversy, especially where the film was produced, this is a bold move that director Agnieszka Holland took and created a film that speaks about humanity in an endless war. The film will premiere at the festival on October 21 followed by a encore screening the day afterwards. The film is yet to receive US distribution but it has received international distribution. A Happy Day (Directed by Hisham Zaman) [Country: Norway] International coming-of-age stories have always been something special that other people will connect to, even with the barrier of the language. This film is no different. A Happy Day premiered at TIFF and the film is about three teenage friends who are stuck in a frozen, hopeless place in Norway. They come up with a plan to escape over the mountain to a world where their dreams can be fulfilled. But when one of them falls in love, their plan begins to unravel. Based on the trailer, this is a mix of comedy and drama and an exploration of friendship and identity. This film will also take audiences to the frozen atmosphere of Norway and explore the small chaos within the asylum center. The film will premiere at the festival on October 13 with director Hisham Zaman in attendance, followed by an encore screening the following day. The film is yet to receive US distribution but it has received international distribution. Monster (Directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda) [Country: Japan] After Hirokazu Kore-eda's latest film Broker, he's back with another Japanese film that is similar in vein to his other films. This is one of the most anticipated films at the festival and we are not ready to see what Kore-eda has in store. The film follows a young mother who is starting to suspect his son's behavior and feels like there's something wrong. Discovering that a teacher is responsible, she storms into the school demanding to know what's going on. But as the story unfolds through the eyes of the mother, teacher, and child, the truth gradually emerges. Kore-eda is no stranger to bringing unique personal subjects and giving them full emotional depth which audiences will connect. Plus, the film won best screenplay (written by Yuji Sakamoto) at the Cannes Film Festival so it's clear that this film will break audiences' emotions. I cannot wait to see this film when it premieres at the festival on October 15, followed by an encore screening the day after. The film will be distributed by Well Go USA Entertainment on November 22 at select US Theaters. Departing Seniors (Directed by Clare Cooney) [Country: United States] Another Chicago-made film that will premiere right at home at the festival! Departing Seniors is Clare Cooney's feature directorial debut and the film follows a witty high school senior who develops psychic abilities which he must use to stop a mysterious serial killer targeting his classmates. This is a modern-day indie slasher that has complex characters that deal with personal issues while dealing with a killer on the loose. I got a chance to meet with Jose Nateras, the writer of the film including lead actor Ignacio Diaz-Silverio about their experiences working on the film and how this film is an opportunity for other young filmmakers to not just put their voice out there, but to push yourself on creating a project that you love and care about. Especially with a team full of passionate filmmakers who want to make this film come to life. This is a film that horror fans will love and I'm looking forward to it. The film just had its North American premiere on opening day at the festival but it will be released in US theaters next year. The film will be distributed by Dark Sky Films (a local based distributor in Illinois). This is just a peek at the over 100 films that will be presented at the festival throughout the two weeks! We cannot wait to start our coverage with Anatomy of a Fall and watch several international films that deserve to be highlighted. This is a film festival that every Chicagoan should not miss! We will see you there and if you see me at the festival, don't be shy and give me a quick hello! See you at the movies! The festival will run from October 11 to 22 at over 5 theater locations including AMC Newcity 14.
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Copyright © 2023 Vizeit Reviews / Vizeit Studios. All Rights Reserved. Preview Written By: Everardo Garcia Jr. Editor In-Chief/Owner of Vizeit Reviews | (Chicago Indie Critics Member [CIC]) |
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