Killers of the Flower Moon

Leonardo DiCaprio decided that the best way to NOT look like Jay Gatsby in this movie was to wear this big awkward mouth/teeth prosthetic, and man it looks weird. It’s like he thought “I only want to look a little weird, but not REALLY weird.” He should have gone full H.A.M. weird, but this just looks affected and awkward. So much of the technique of this movie is great. Every second, every frame is beautifully captured. But the story is gross. There’s no hero to speak of. While Mollie the wife (Lily Gladstone) is the only non-scumbag in the entire movie, she’s not really the hero or protagonist. She doesn’t really drive the plot and she’s down with sickness for about a third of this 3-hour saga. It’s not until Jesse Plemons’ FBI character enters the scene that I ever felt like justice and resolution might occur. Yes, it’s an “important” movie about a grim historical event. But it’s a “medicine” movie and lacks narrative suspense and intrigue. It doesn’t matter how many well-costumed extras you have on set if you don’t have a hero and a journey. It’s beautiful to behold, though.