The vast number of murders of Native Americans in David Grann's book surely presented a problem for transferring this first "FBI" case to the screen. Scorsese and his co-screenwriter come close to solving the complexity issue by focusing almost entirely on the DeNiro character's treachery in drawing his nephew (DiCaprio) into marrying an Osage woman, with the long range plot to acquire her family's huge oil rights fortune. The reality, which is only suggested and referred to here and there, is that many other men besides this sheriff (!!) and his possibly somewhat duped nephew, were also killing off their own spouses and relatives to acquire similar fortunes.
For over two hours this movie is riveting, and we know we're in the hands of a master. The three leads give their careers a huge upward leap. DeNiro and DiCaprio have seen heights like this many times before, but Lily Gladstone charts very new territory in presenting a clever, witty and heroic portrayal of an Osage woman on the screen.
But the abrupt shift of the tone, in which the courtroom and jail scenes are staged near the end, makes it seem (to me) as if we've entered a different movie. Despite the bluster of John Lithgow and Brendan Fraser, the trial scenes seem perhaps to have been rushed or weakly developed. But the bulk of the material before these scenes is so well done and involving that a lapse like this can easily be ignored.
Scorsese brings the movie to a close with a couple of brave choices: a scene of a radio studio broadcast, and a final overhead shot of a tribal ritual dance that is stunning to see. Most excellent movie.
For over two hours this movie is riveting, and we know we're in the hands of a master. The three leads give their careers a huge upward leap. DeNiro and DiCaprio have seen heights like this many times before, but Lily Gladstone charts very new territory in presenting a clever, witty and heroic portrayal of an Osage woman on the screen.
But the abrupt shift of the tone, in which the courtroom and jail scenes are staged near the end, makes it seem (to me) as if we've entered a different movie. Despite the bluster of John Lithgow and Brendan Fraser, the trial scenes seem perhaps to have been rushed or weakly developed. But the bulk of the material before these scenes is so well done and involving that a lapse like this can easily be ignored.
Scorsese brings the movie to a close with a couple of brave choices: a scene of a radio studio broadcast, and a final overhead shot of a tribal ritual dance that is stunning to see. Most excellent movie.