Showing posts with label Killers Of The Flower Moon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Killers Of The Flower Moon. Show all posts

(Crisp) Movie Review: KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON by FENIL SETA

11:32 AM

Posted by Fenil Seta

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Killers Of The Flower Moon tells an incredibly shocking story and it's difficult to believe that the incident happened for real. Martin Scorsese opts for an unhurried narrative. It works as viewers get time to understand the characters, the setting and the conflict. A few scenes are terrific in terms of execution and performance and leave a huge mark. At the same time, the run time of 3 hours 26 minutes is way too much. The film easily could have been shorter by 30 minutes. The narrative also drops in the middle and thankfully, it picks up in the last act. Speaking of performances, Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro deliver Oscar-winning performances. The same goes for Lily Gladstone; her career will surely go to another level after this film. The other actors who leave a mark in a supporting role are Cara Jade Myers (Anna), Jesse Plemons (Tom White), Tommy Schultz (Blackie) and Sturgill Simpson (Henry Grammer). Brendan Fraser is wasted. All in all, Killers Of The Flower Moon is a well-made saga; you'll be in for a great time if you don't mind the long length.

My rating - *** ½ out of 5!

Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 801

9:01 AM

Posted by Fenil Seta

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TOUGH 2 FRIDAYS AHEAD BEFORE THE BIG DIWALI WEEKEND

The pre-Diwali period has kicked in. Several films will try their luck tomorrow and the week after in theatres. Sadly, none of the films seem exciting to the audience and only a positive word of mouth can save them.

The big release of the week is Tejas. It stars Kangana Ranaut as an Air force officer and is Ronnie Screwvala’s first theatrical release after 4 years. The trailer is interesting and the awareness about the film is there but the curiosity is limited. Moreover, Kangana’s track record has suffered a beating due to back-to-back debacles. As a result, the film will open in the range of Rs. 1-2 crores. There can be a 100% jump in earnings on Saturday if the public accepts the film. Once that happens, it’ll have a smooth run till Diwali.

The next major release is 12th Fail. It is directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra and stars Vikrant Massey in the lead. It is based on the real-life story of a man who grew up in a backward area and aspired to clear the tough IPS exam. The film has received acclaim from all quarters, including the media. But the awareness is quite limited. Zee Studios has backed the film and they have given it an extensive release. The opening is expected to be around Rs. 40-50 lakhs. This film, too, can show an increase in collections if word of mouth can spread fast.

Lastly, Sajini Shinde Ka Viral Video stars Nimrat Kaur and Radhika Madan. Until a few weeks back, it was named Happy Teachers’ Day. Radhika in an interview stated that acclaimed director Sriram Raghavan suggested that the film be renamed Sajini Shinde Ka Viral Video for a better impact. The trailer is quite intriguing. Sadly, many are not even aware that a film of this name exists, though the makers have tried their best to make noise. The screen count seems limited and it remains to be seen which one opens better - Sajini Shinde Ka Viral Video or 12th Fail.

Lastly, the big Hollywood release is Killers Of The Flower Moon, directed by globally renowned filmmaker Martin Scorsese. It stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro. Due to the casting and Scorsese’s association, the film will definitely find a tiny section of the audience. Expect near-sold-out or even housefull shows in certain theatres at least in the weekend. The only minus point is that it’s too long with a run time of 3 hours 26 minutes.

I’m intending to make a movie that should be seen on the big screen-Martin Scorsese

8:27 AM

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‘I’m intending to make a movie that should be seen on the big screen’

Devansh Sharma (HINDUSTAN TIMES; October 11, 2023)

For his second film in a row, filmmaker Martin Scorsese has turned to a streaming giant. But like his previous outing The Irishman (2019), Killers Of The Flower Moon, too, would release in cinemas first.

“It should be seen on the big screen. Are we intending to make a blockbuster? No, we’re making a movie, which should watched on the big screen,” says the 80-year-old, adding, “People say it’s three hours, but come on, you can sit in front of the TV and watch something for five hours. Also, there are many people who watch theatre for three-and-a-half hours. You give it that respect, give cinema some respect, [too].”

The film marks Scorsese’s 10th collaboration with actor Robert De Niro. “He’s the only one alive now who knows where I come from. It’s a formative relationship that goes back to when we were 16 years old. We’re drawn to the same subject matter and psychological and emotional conflicts in ourselves, people and characters,” he says.

He has been vocal about the need to “save cinema” from “comic-book movies” by backing individual voices. But doesn’t the success of Barbenheimer show that we’re getting there?

“I do think that the combination of Oppenheimer and Barbie was the perfect storm. The way it fit perfectly — a film with such entertainment value and bright colours and a film with such severity and strength — does offer hope for a different cinema. And the most important thing is that people went to watch these in a theatre.”

Martin Scorsese, who made his first film, Who’s That Knocking At My Door, 56 years ago, says most of his projects have taught him something. He explains, “I learnt after Raging Bull (1980) that I’d have to start all over again every time. And that led to The King Of Comedy (1982). I learnt, in a very good way, ignorance,” he tells us, adding, “By the time I did Silence (2016) and The Irishman (2019), I dealt with only the essentials — where you make it look simple, but it’s not actually that.”

While Killers of the Flower Moon is a story about America, Scorsese agrees that it will speak to all those around the world whose culture has been misappropriated. “Oh yes! For instance, when I saw Satyajit Ray’s Pather Panchali (1955), I said, ‘Wait a minute! Those are the people I usually see in the background of other films. What’s the difference here?’ The difference is that the film is being made by them,” he points out.

It’s a lesser-known fact that it was Robert De Niro who introduced Scorsese to Leonardo DiCaprio, another frequent collaborator of the latter. Does Killers of the Flower Moon, which also stars DiCaprio, feel like a reunion?

“I worked with Leo on Gangs Of New York (2002), then we pushed it further in The Aviator (2004), during the making of which we learnt that there’s a 30-year age difference! But I found that we had a similar kind of sensibility. We had a similar fearlessness, the will to try things and a very, very strong trust,” he says, adding that both actors are “quite different” in terms of their approach to their work and craft. “Bob (De Niro) is quieter. It’s all action. Leo and I talk a great deal. It’s our process of working through rehearsals. But I’ve been very fortunate with the two of them over the years,” he wraps up.

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