Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)

Killers of the Flower Moon is the latest from the legendary director Martin Scorsese.

Scorsese has made some of the best movies of all time, from Goodfellas and The Departed to The Irishman. I'm sure it'll come as some surprise that I haven't seen Taxi Driver or Raging Bull, but did you know that Scorsese directed Michael Jackon's music video 'Bad'? This film might take some time for me to enjoy as much as his previous work but I could tell he put a lot of effort into the last act.

The screenplay for the film goes to Scoresese and Eric Roth. Roth was great at writing Dune recently, and Forest Gump earlier in his career. I haven't seen a dud from him and this is no exception. The first act could have been cut down for this chrono-heavy film.

Leonardo DiCaprio is a superstar but he puts on this stupid expression the entire film. Don't get me wrong I understand why the Scorsese got him to do this, but it still is an eyesore. The trailer says that this is the best film he's ever done. It's far from that but given the person he had to play, it was still pretty good.

Robert De Niro is another superstar and that goes without saying. He plays his character to the letter, ruthless, aggressive, sinister, and oddly charming. His character knows who he is and leans into the life that was given to him. De Niro doesn't have as much time on screen as DiCaprio and his character's wife. It's really the editing fault for that one as they focused on DiCaprio too much.

John Lithgow and Brendan Frasier both make a surprise and welcome change to the film's bleak interactions between Natives and Americans. There was a long scene with J.C. MacKenzie where he plays a radio announcer that I felt was way too long and unneeded. There are going to be comparisons between this film and Oppenheimer. The latter has much better pacing and that scene will be a prime example.

The film still has a quality that modern movies just don't have. It's not for everyone, but for movie buffs, it will be on their to-watch list. Result: B+.

Comments

The Housemaid (2025)

The Housemaid (2025) is directed by Paul Feig , best known for comedies like Bridesmaids and Freaks and Geeks , and the tonal clash is noticeable. Feig leans into slick presentation and surface-level tension, but the film never quite reconciles its thriller ambitions with its obvious messaging. As an adaptation, it feels safer and more predictable than it wants to be, especially given how clearly it telegraphs its twists. Sydney Sweeney , known for Euphoria and Anyone But You , plays a down-on-her-luck woman recently out on parole who is desperate for work. She does what she can with the role and brings some emotional weight early on, but the writing limits her range. Her character cycles through bashful and annoyed so often that it starts to feel repetitive rather than psychologically layered. Amanda Seyfried , recognizable from Mamma Mia! and Mean Girls , plays the wealthy woman whose life slowly unravels as the power dynamic flips. Seyfried is solid and more controlled than Sw...

Marty Supreme (2025)

Marty Supreme (2025) is written and directed by Josh Safdie , who previously directed Good Time and Uncut Gems . This film carries that same frantic Safdie energy, with constant motion and pressure that rarely lets the audience breathe. It is chaotic by design, sometimes to a fault, but the intensity feels intentional rather than sloppy. Even when the pacing threatens to overwhelm, the film remains compelling due to the strength of its performances. Timothée Chalamet , known for Dune and Call Me by Your Name , plays the title role and fits it perfectly. He fully commits to the character’s ambition and volatility, balancing confidence with insecurity in a way that feels natural for him at this stage of his career. This is not a transformative performance, but it is a highly effective one, and he clearly understands the rhythm and demands of a Safdie-style film. Odessa A’zion , who audiences may recognize from Grand Army and Hellraiser (2022) , is a standout as the love interest. S...

Anaconda (2025)

Anaconda (2025) is a reboot comedy of the 90s film, written and directed by Tom Gormican , who previously delivered the clever and self-aware The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent . Unfortunately, that lightning does not strike twice. The core problem is simple. The jokes do not land. If horror films are judged by scares per minute, then comedies should be judged by laughs per minute, and this one delivers virtually none. Any humor that works was already burned in the trailer, leaving the film feeling empty and painfully drawn out. Jack Black , known for School of Rock and Jumanji , leans heavily into his loud, chaotic persona, but here it becomes grating rather than charming. His performance feels unchecked and repetitive, as if volume alone is meant to substitute for comedy. Instead of elevating scenes, he often drains them of momentum. Paul Rudd , who audiences know from Ant-Man and I Love You, Man , somehow comes off just as irritating. Rudd is usually likable even in weak m...

Movies, Film, and Chili

Search This Blog