Killers of Flower Moon: Scorsese’s new film with DiCaprio’s participation is already a record!

What is it about? In the early 20th century, oil brought wealth to the Osages, who overnight became one of the richest in the world. The wealth of these Native Americans immediately attracts the lust of unscrupulous white men, who intrigue, extort, and steal as much of the Osage money as they can before turning to murder…

A budget worthy of Marvel!

Killers of Flower Moon was made for $200 million, which is a lot for a movie that isn’t an action blockbuster. It is Martin Scorsese’s highest-grossing feature film, surpassing Gangs of New York (97 million), The Wolf of Wall Street (100), The Aviator (110), Hugo Cabret (160) and The Irishman (id.).

Let us remind you that Leonardo DiCaprio was paid 30 million dollars for his participation in the movie “Killers of the Flower Moon”. Salary higher than Jason Statham got for Expendables 4.

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A long-term project

Killers of the Flower Moon is adapted from David Grann’s work of the same name, published in 2017. In the same year, a film project with Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio directed by Martin Scorsese appeared, but filming did not begin until then. April 2021. The two main reasons for this delay? Irish and covid-19 pandemic filming.

Furthermore, The Irishman, Scorsese’s last, was not released in French cinemas. It went straight to Netflix (which made a feature film). The Flower Moon Assassins could have met the same fate. Funded in part by Apple Studios, the film was released almost exclusively on Apple TV+. Fortunately, Paramount took matters into their own hands and distributed the film theatrically.

“It was an emotional moment”: the birth of the script

Originally, Martin Scorsese and Eric Roth’s adaptation had the protagonist Thomas Bruce White Sr., a Texas Ranger and FBI agent who solved the Osage murders. Then another perspective emerged: “Why make a movie about Tom White when it’s about Osage history?”asked Scorsese, who was also concerned that Tom White’s role was too limited for DiCaprio.

“The book works, but the risk was that the movie would be another story about a white savior, an FBI agent who comes in and solves problems. David Grann was very direct: if you want to make a movie, you have to understand. The role of the Osage in this story”– adds the director. Then a narrative resolution emerged, derived from court records and David Grann’s accounts. Scorsese states:

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On trial was Ernest Burkhart, a war veteran who found work in the Fairfax oil fields. He testified about his participation in the criminal conspiracy created by his uncle. The plot involved marrying the daughter of a wealthy Osage family and then. Murder of sisters, brother-in-law, etc. Trying to get their “freedom” back. The next wife on the list was Molly.”

Leonardo DiCaprio performs: “It was an emotional moment. Complicated and dark…fascinating from a character perspective – the fact that this couple stayed together after the trial. Eventually, they broke up. But Marty managed to perfectly bring humanity to the unlikeable characters. That’s where it’s at. The heart of the film should be And not in an investigation led by someone from the outside.”

Amazing sources of inspiration

In an Irish daily newspaper Irish TimesMartin Scorsese explained that the disturbing Midsommar (2019) and Beau Is Afraid (2023), both directed by Ari Aster, inspired him regarding the rhythm of The Killers of the Flower Moon: “I really like the style and pace of good horror films like Ari Aster’s Midsommar and Beau is Afraid.”

“The size of these movies is related to certain B-movies Val Lewtonhas Feline Jacques Tournai or even by him Voodoo. A little slower, a little quieter. I was very nervous about leaving out scenes that didn’t add anything narratively to the story, scenes that were more about the Osage and their culture.

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“I wanted to show scenes that made their cultures proud – whether it was baby namings, funerals, weddings. I wanted the audience to learn more about these people and immerse themselves. In the world of the film. It’s about chance. What else can I do at my age?” ?”

Scorsese’s 2 favorite actors

Killers of the Flower Moon reunites two of Scorsese’s favorite actors, Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio. The first toured ten times under his direction (Mean Streets, Taxi Driver, New York, New York, Raging Bull, La Valse des pantins, Les Affranchis, Les Nerfs à vive, Casino, The Irishman and Killers of the Flower Moon) and the second six times (New -Gangs of York, The Aviator, The Departed, Shutter Island, The Wolf of Wall Street and The Flower Moon Killers).

After Killers of the Flower Moon, Martin Scorsese will reunite with DiCaprio for the seventh time!

Finally, note that these two legendary actors will meet again after The Secret Blessing (1994) and Simple Secret (1998). After working together on Secret Wounds, De Niro introduced DiCaprio to Scorsese.