Bronze - Killers of the Flower Moon
Oscar Tidbit: Nominated for 9 Oscars and won none; should have been nominated for 10 and deserved to win 3.
Best Supporting Actor (Snub): Robert De Niro was the clear winner over Robert Downey Jr.
Best Director (Snub): Oppenheimer won, but Martin Scorsese deserved it over Christopher Nolan.
Best Film Editing (Snub): While Oppenheimer won, Killers of the Flower Moon deserved it more.
Best Actress: Lily Gladstone was nominated but lost to Emma Stone, which was well-deserved. Looking forward to seeing Gladstone in more films; her performance was outstanding in a tough category.
Best Picture: Oppenheimer won, but Poor Things should have taken the top honor.
Best Music (Original): Oppenheimer won, but Poor Things should have prevailed.
Best Music (Song): Rightfully won by Billie Eilish for “What Are We Made For?”—her second Oscar after 2022’s “No Time to Die.”
Best Production Design: Rightfully lost to Poor Things.
Best Costume: Rightfully lost to Poor Things.
Missing Category: Best Adapted Screenplay. Replacing Zone of Interest.
Martin Scorsese never fails to impress, and "Killers of the Flower Moon" stands as one of his finest works. The stellar cast delivers astounding performances, with Lily Gladstone, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Robert De Niro all shining. But it’s De Niro’s portrayal that truly stands out. As my sister rightly put it, “low key building his villainous character throughout the movie. You start feeling somewhat unsettled, and are completely perturbed by him by the end.” De Niro masterfully embodies a terrifying sociopath, selling murder with a disarming smile.
This historical drama uncovers a chilling narrative of wolves hiding in plain sight. The indifference these men show towards human lives, deemed lesser by their greed, are nothing short of appalling. "Killers of the Flower Moon" delves into the very nature of evil. The Osage Nation, pushed to what was thought to be a barren wasteland in Oklahoma, discovers oil beneath their land, transforming them into the wealthiest people overnight. But with this newfound wealth comes a brutal struggle, where land and power turn into political pawns.
The story revolves around three main characters: Ernest, Mollie, and Hale. Hale, the manipulative uncle, pulls the strings, while Mollie and Ernest’s love story unfolds amidst the chaos. Mollie had no idea her suffering would contribute to the founding of the FBI or expose deep-seated injustices a century later. She was simply trying to survive and hold on to her dignity as everything was stripped away from her.
Ultimately, what "Killers of the Flower Moon" powerfully conveys is how injustice is intricately woven into the fabric of wealth and inequity. Through its compelling storytelling, the film lays bare the intrinsic connection between the pursuit of power and the exploitation of the vulnerable.
