Rated 4.1/5, This Top 2023 Movie Faces Regret Over DiCaprio’s Radical Choice!

On October 18, 2023, Martin Scorsese’s epic new film, Killers of the Flower Moon, was released in theaters. Despite its lengthy runtime, the movie, starring Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio, drew an audience of 1.2 million in France.

However, the film did not perform well commercially on the international stage, earning only $158 million against a budget of $200 million. It did, however, find a second life when it began streaming on Apple TV+.

Despite its commercial struggles, Killers of the Flower Moon was a massive critical success, especially notable during its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2023. The film is based on a book by David Grann, adapted into a screenplay by Martin Scorsese and Eric Roth. Roth, appearing on the podcast Final Draft, shared his views on the film with a touch of regret.

A Bitter Taste

Looking back, Roth expressed disappointment over a change in perspective that occurred during production. Initially, the story was supposed to center on Tom White, the FBI agent investigating murders among the Osage Native American tribe. Leonardo DiCaprio was set to portray this character, and the script was to follow the main narrative of the book closely.

However, DiCaprio, who was also a producer, opted for a revision of the script to reflect the perspective of the Native American people, particularly through the character of Mollie Kyle, played by Lily Gladstone. DiCaprio switched roles to play Ernest Burkhart, the nephew of William Hale (Robert De Niro) and husband of Mollie. The role of the investigator, significantly diminished, was given to Jesse Plemons.

“Leonardo was concerned it would be too much of a white savior story; so he decided to take on the other role, which is fine, except I had already spent five years working on that screenplay. I have mixed feelings about the film,” Roth admitted with some bitterness.

“Ultimately, I love the film overall. Marty made an incredibly sad and precise portrait of what we did to these people and their plight. I think it’s a very important film,” Roth added, tempering his earlier remarks.

“I just wish it had been more entertaining. I love Tom White, the main character from the book, whom Jesse Plemons ended up playing. I wish we could have seen more of him,” he concluded. Indeed, Roth had initially envisioned a crime thriller focused on solving the murders, but this idea was quashed by DiCaprio’s decision, and he had to go along with it.

A Masterpiece Nonetheless

Rumors also suggest that Paul Thomas Anderson, the renowned director of Magnolia and There Will Be Blood, lent his writing talents to the film, asking not to be credited. If true, it’s understandable why Roth might feel somewhat ousted from his creation.

Nevertheless, Roth can be proud as Killers of the Flower Moon remains a masterpiece that will stand the test of time. Its exploration of a largely hidden part of American history has made significant strides toward recognizing the atrocities endured by the Osages and moving toward reconciliation.

Indeed, Scorsese highlighted how the narrative of the Osage murders had been distorted. While the FBI arrested some of the killers, it failed to address the broader conspiracy that aimed to strip the Osages of their wealth by murdering them. Standing Bear, the Osage nation’s leader, reflected this sentiment powerfully during a press conference at Cannes: “My people still suffer today. But I can say, on behalf of the Osage nation, that Scorsese and his team have restored trust.”