‘Killers of the Flower Moon‘ is the kind of movie the app RunPee was made for. At three hours and 26 minutes, it is 17 minutes longer than the flick that inspired RunPee: 2005’s “King Kong.” Of course, Woman on the Verge regularly does her Kegel exercises, so there was no need to run anywhere.
Still, Scorsese is well known for taking his time telling important stories. This one is based on the eponymous book by New Yorker writer David Grann; it was a National Book Award finalist in 2017. The story of the Osage murders and the birth of the FBI is also a story of oil, greed, and lawlessness. Fundamentally, it represents Oklahoman history.
(Once upon a time, I regularly traveled to the Sooner State. I will never forget the moment a flight attendant gave the final approach announcement as we flew into a lightning storm near Oklahoma City’s Will Rogers World Airport. I felt anxious. Recalling how Will Rogers had died in a plane crash, I thought, “Oklahoma is definitely not OK.” Nowadays, the airport is in the midst of a rebrand effort, which I encourage everyone to support. Apologies to Mr. Rogers, of course.)
Grann’s deeply researched book and Scorsese’s far-reaching film tell the story of dozens of murders in Osage Nation in the early 1920s. Unlike the Tulsa Race Massacre in 1921, the Osage murders happened slowly over time. In the former, white Oklahomans looted and burned Black Wall Street in a matter of days.
By contrast, the oil-rich land of Osage tribe members had made them among the world’s wealthiest people. For this reason, a conspiracy quickly took hold to reclaim the royalties through interracial marriage, insurance scams, and dubious adoptions.
For example, the U.S. federal government assumed full-blooded Osage were too “incompetent” to manage their own money; a legal guardian could be assigned. You will not soon forget Lily Gladstone’s character Mollie Burkart asking the white bank officer for an allotment of her share of oil profits. When the bank officer asks her to identify herself, she responds, “Incompetent # ____.”
Likewise, the scenes where the tribal council discusses what is happening in the community are also riveting. Honestly, House Republicans could learn a thing or three simply by tuning in here. They won’t, but they should.
In addition, I have never seen a movie where insulin figures so prominently, except for 1990’s “Reversal of Fortune.” People with diabetes and those who love them should know this going in. Insulin was newly discovered 100 years ago and has saved millions of lives ever since. That it became one more tool Burkhart’s husband Ernest used to plot his wife’s murder is truly unsettling.
In the end, what makes “Killers of the Flower Moon” so powerful is how clearly it portrays casual, everyday racism of the most lethal kind. While it obviously takes place in another era, we should harbor no illusions about the distant past, let alone the imperfect present.
Similarly, the film’s unique ending is a novel approach consistent with the dawn of the Golden Age of Radio. Whether you like this filmic innovation or not, perhaps the main takeaway of the prior 206 minutes is that we can unite against racism after all, and history need not repeat itself.
“Nyad” is also based on a book: Diana Nyad’s 2015 memoir “Find a Way.” Her story is primarily one of long-distance swimming, while ideas about grit, aging, and friendship permeate the film. “Nyad,” which is Greek for “water nymph,” gives the sports biopic fan a fascinating look at one woman’s incredible drive, athleticism, and risk tolerance.
Of course, Diana Nyad first became famous after she swam around Manhattan in 1975. She accomplished this feat in less than eight hours. However, the new movie focuses on her efforts to swim from Cuba to Florida. And let’s be honest: Open water swimming in the Atlantic is not the same thing as floating around New York Bay.
Nyad stars Annette Bening as the ultra-long-distance swimmer, with Jodie Foster playing her coach, erstwhile lover, and best friend. Astute audiences know by now: Here is a movie that passes the Bechdel test. Of course, any movie that centers a Mary Oliver poem is probably a Bechdel contender.
As refreshing as this is, let’s just say it hit very close to home. “Nyad” is a love story from beginning to end, this much I know for sure. On the other hand, some of Diana Nyad’s claims about her own achievements remain in dispute. In fact, this entire site is dedicated to fact-checking her. Indeed, the jury is still out on many of her claims to fame, but readers should always consider the source.
I caught Nyad at the Chatham Orpheum Theater at the elbow of Cape Cod. My first time there, I did not expect the afternoon show would be so well attended. Then again, it was a rainy day. So I ended up in sitting much closer to the screen than my preferred seating toward the back. I mention this because my proximity gave me the sense I was swimming alongside Annette Bening—or almost drowning nearby.
Maybe this feeling came from my teary eyes, I don’t know. In any case, I thoroughly enjoyed this film. And I predict acting nominations for its co-stars. I also predict acting, best picture, and best director noms for “Killers.”
Like Triplex Cinema, the Chatham Orpheum is a nonprofit organization that successfully brought movies back to the heart of the community. As Triplex’s return draws nearer, I am already celebrating. Remember: Wake up, get dressed, and go to the movies!
