Unveiling the Untamed West: Why Martin Scorsese's Latest Masterpiece Defies Traditional Western Conventions

Killers of the Flower Moon actress Lily Gladstone clarifies that the upcoming Martin Scorsese film is not a Western. Following his partnership with Netflix for The Irishman, Scorsese has now teamed up with Apple for Killers of the Flower Moon, a grand historical epic based on David Grann's book of the same name. Alongside Gladstone, the movie features Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Jesse Plemons, Brendan Fraser, and John Lithgow, recounting the harrowing tale of a series of brutal slayings targeting members of the Osage Nation in the 1920s after oil is discovered on their land.

Prior to the film's release later this year, Gladstone, a Native American herself, tells Empire magazine that this movie doesn't adhere to the traditional Western genre as many might assume. The Western genre carries with it certain stereotypes and clichés, she explains, but this particular film, which she refers to as "a profound American tragedy," involves extensive collaboration with actual Native Americans to deliver a narrative devoid of such overused tropes. Read Gladstone's complete statement below.

"A large number of individuals are eager to label this as 'Martin Scorsese's Western'. When it comes to indigenous people and Western films, we are often portrayed as lacking humanity, blending into the surroundings rather than being seen as storytellers."

How Killers Of The Flower Moon Avoids Western Tropes

Originally, the primary focus of Killers of the Flower Moon was the FBI investigation into the Osage murders. Martin Scorsese had planned to emphasize the storytelling through the perspective of Agent Tom White and his FBI colleagues as they diligently sought to unravel the gruesome crimes. Initially, Leonardo DiCaprio was set to portray White, but this plan altered when Scorsese commenced engaging with members of the Osage Nation.

After insightful conversations, it became evident that the perspective of Native Americans in the Killers of the Flower Moon narrative needed greater emphasis. Mollie Burkhart, portrayed by Gladstone, took center stage in the story, while DiCaprio was cast as her conniving husband Ernest, and Plemons as White. Trailers for Killers of the Flower Moon hint at Gladstone's character and her ill-fated relationship with Ernest, indicating it will be the focal point of the story.

The historical events of Osage County in the 1920s also lend themselves to an Anti-Western approach. The true story involves the murder of members of the Osage Nation by affluent white individuals driven by greed. Shifting the focus away from FBI investigators helps the film steer clear of the white savior stereotypes that have long plagued the Western genre. Although the audience's response to the movie remains to be seen, early reactions suggest that Scorsese made the right decision in incorporating more of the Native American perspective.

Source: Empire