‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ is building momentum during awards season
Martin Scorsese’s Oklahoma-made cinematic epic “Killers of the Flower Moon” has emerged as a strong contender in the cinematic awards season.
Since garnering widespread critical acclaim with its Oct. 20 theatrical debut, “Killers of the Flower Moon” has been named the best film of 2023 by the New York Film Critics Circle and National Board of Review, received a tribute at NYC’s Gotham Awards, made the American Film Institute’s list of top 10 movies of the year and earned seven Golden Globe nominations.
Here’s a look at what the film’s Academy Awards prospects are and what “Killers of the Flower Moon” has won so far:
Will ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ be nominated for Oscars?
Now available to rent or buy digitally, “Killers of the Flower Moon” has brought to light a dark and often-overlooked chapter of Oklahoma history: The 1920s “Reign of Terror,” a series of brutal murders of oil-rich Osage Nation citizens.
Filmed in and around Osage County in 2021, Scorsese’s 3 1/2-hour fact-based drama is adapted from “Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI.”
Not only did Scorsese — an Academy Award-winning icon known for his movies “The Wolf of Wall Street,” Taxi Driver” and “The Departed,” for which he garnered his best director Oscar — direct and produce “Killers of the Flower Moon,” but he also co-wrote the screenplay with Eric Roth, a six-time Academy Award nominee who won in 1995 with “Forrest Gump.”
Co-distributed by Apple Original Films and Paramount Pictures, “Killers of the Flower Moon” reunited Scorsese with two of his frequent collaborators who had never been in one of his feature films together: Oscar winner Leonardo
DiCaprio (“The Revenant”) and twotime Oscar recipient Robert De Niro (“Raging Bull,” “The Godfather: Part II”).
But Native American performer Lily Gladstone, who is NiMíiPuu, or Nez Perce, and Siksikaitsitapi, or Blackfeet, has proven the film’s awards favorite for her powerful lead turn as Mollie Kyle Burkhart, a real-life Osage woman who lived on the tribal settlement of Gray Horse, near Fairfax.
During the Reign of Terror, Mollie and her family were marked for death in a vicious scheme to swindle away their oil money, which was masterminded by ruthless local rancher William K. Hale (De Niro).
DiCaprio portrays Mollie’s treacherous husband, Ernest Burkhart, who is caught between his love for his wife and the powerful influence of Hale, his uncle.
Variety has confirmed that Gladstone will contend for best actress, and she could become the first Native American nominee in that prestigious category if she gets the nod.
The official nominations for the 96th Academy Awards won’t be announced until Jan. 23.
But Variety, Goldderby.com and Awardsdaily.com are predicting that “Killers of the Flower Moon” could land double-digit Oscar nominations.
The 96th Academy Awards are scheduled to air March 10, 2024, on ABC.
‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ gets seven Golden Globe nominations
“Killers of the Flower Moon” garnered seven nods – including in the top category of Best Motion Picture - Drama – when the Golden Globe Awards nominations were announced Monday.
The historical epic also is nominated for best actress in a film drama for Gladstone, actor in a cinematic drama for DiCaprio, supporting actor in a movie for De Niro, best film director for Scorsese, movie screenplay for Scorsese and Roth, and original film score for the late Robbie Robertson.
Gladstone is the first Indigenous nominee in the category of Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture in Golden Globes history, according to Deadline.
She follows Irene Bedard, who in 1994 became the first Native American woman to earn a Golden Globe nomination as a performer with her turn in the TV movie “Lakota Woman: Siege at Wounded Knee,” for which she was nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series, Anthology Series, or a Motion Picture Made for Television.
Greta Gerwig’s blockbuster “Barbie” earned a leading nine Golden Globes nominations, with fellow summer hit “Oppenheimer” close behind with eight nods.
In the television categories, Tulsa native Bill Hader is nominated for best actor in a TV musical or comedy series for his darkly comic hitman tale “Barry,” which aired its fourth and final season on HBO this year.
Hader is the executive producer, cocreator (with Alec Berg), writer, director and star of the show, which also is nominated for the Golden Globe for best musical or comedy TV series.
The 81st annual Golden Globe Awards will air live on CBS and stream on Paramount+ Jan. 7.
‘Flower Moon’ and ‘Reservation Dogs’ honored by AFI Awards
The American Film Institute is recognizing two Oklahoma-made critical darlings among its 2023 AFI Awards.
AFI revealed Dec. 7 its list of the top 10 movies of 2023, lauding “Killers of the Flower Moon” along with “American Fiction,” “Barbie,” “The Holdovers,” “Maestro,” “May December,” “Oppenheimer,” “Past Lives,” “Poor Things” and “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.”
The institute’s list of top 10 television programs of the year includes the groundbreaking Oklahoma-made streaming series “Reservation Dogs,” along with “Abbott Elementary,” “The Bear,” “Beef,” “Jury Duty,” “The Last of Us,” “The Morning Show,” “Only Murders in the Building,” “Poker Face” and “Succession.”
AFI Awards selections are made through a jury process in which AFI Trustees, artists, critics and scholars determine the year’s most outstanding achievements and provide artistic and cultural context for the selection of each honoree.
The AFI Awards were established in 2001, and in that time, no film has won the best picture Oscar without first making the institute’s top 10 list, according to Deadline.
The honorees will be celebrated Jan. 12 at the annual AFI Awards private luncheon.
National Board of Review calls ‘Flower Moon’ best film of the year
The National Board of Review has named “Killers of the Flower Moon” the best film of 2023.
The fact-based crime drama also earned the board’s award for best director for Scorsese and best actress for Gladstone.
Rodrigo Prieto was recognized for Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography for his work on “Killers of the Flower Moon” and “Barbie” when the honorees were revealed Dec. 6.
Scorsese is now tied with legendary “Lawrence of Arabia” moviemaker David Lean with four wins, the most of any director in NBR history, according to Variety.
Founded in 1909, the nonprofit National Board of Review recognizes excellence in filmmaking, with a select group of film enthusiasts, filmmakers, critics, academics and students considering 245 films this year.
Over the past three decades, the recipient of the National Board of Review’s best film has usually gone on to garner an Oscar nod for best picture.
Hosted by NBC anchor Willie Geist, the NBR Awards Gala is slated for Jan. 11 at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City.
New York Film Critics Circle names ‘Flower Moon’ best film of 2023
“Killers of the Flower Moon” has been named the best film of 2023 by the New York Film Critics Circle.
The group announced the winners of its annual critics awards Nov. 30. “Killers of the Flower Moon” star Gladstone was named best actress, too.
Founded in 1935, the New York Film Critics Circle is the oldest critics group in the country.
“Killers of the Flower Moon” is Scorsese’s third movie to win the best film award from the group, after 1990’s “GoodFellas” and 2019’s “The Irishman,” according to The Associated Press. Scorsese is a lifelong New Yorker. The New York Film Critics Circle’s annual Gala Awards dinner is set for Jan. 3 at Tao Downtown.
‘Flower Moon’ receives tribute at NYC’s Gotham Awards
In November, the NYC-based Gotham Film & Media Institute recognized “Killers of the Flower Moon” with the Gotham Historical Icon & Creator Tribute, which was delivered at the 33rd annual Gotham Awards Ceremony.
Billed as “the first major awards show of the awards season,” the Gotham Awards Ceremony was Nov. 27 at Cipriani Wall Street.
The Historical Icon & Creator Tribute recognizes significant moments in history and honors the filmmaker and cast who are responsible for bringing the story to life in an authentic way on the big screen.
The “Killers of the Flower Moon” tribute drew other headlines.
Presenter and cast member De Niro announced from the Gotham Awards stage that a portion of the introduction of his speech had been edited out without his previous knowledge or his permission.
‘Flower Moon’ to be honored at Palm Springs festival
In January, “Killers of the Flower Moon” will receive the Vanguard Award at the Palm Springs International Film Festival in Palm Springs, California.
The Vanguard Award is a group honor distinguishing a film’s cast and director in recognition of their collective work on an exceptional film project.
Festival organizers announced in November that the award will be presented to Scorsese, DiCaprio and Gladstone, who are all expected to be in attendance.
The Palm Springs International Film Awards will take place on Jan. 4 at the Palm Springs Convention Center.
The festival runs through Jan. 15.