During Oscar season, I pay attention to what’s going on in Hollywood. In 2023, I watched the movies, Oppenheimer, Maestro, The Holdovers, Anatomy of the Fall, Poor Things, Barbie, and Napoleon. I especially enjoy watching movies based on books, and of course, what everyone is wearing on the red carpet!

Killers Of The Flower Moon is a film directed by Martin Scorsese based on the book by David Grann. The story of the Osage murders is a subject in US history I wasn’t familiar with. I wanted to read the book and watch the movie before the Oscars on March 10. Here are my thoughts, or should I say my book report, because I loved to write them in grade school and want to emulate those days…lol

Honestly, I didn’t realize until I had the book in my hands that it’s non-fiction which makes the story more heartbreaking and emotional. The Osage murders started around 1920. Family members died because of greed and money. Not a big surprise.

This Indigenous Nation was ousted from their land between the Arkansas and Missouri Rivers in the early 1800s. President Thomas Jefferson said the Osage needed to sign a treaty to give up their land or be declared enemies of the US. 

The Osage settled in Oklahoma where they became very wealthy when oil was discovered beneath their land. Now you can foresee why members of this tribe were calculatedly murdered. We wanted their land with the black gold running through it. The story of the Burkhart Family murders was a premeditated plan for insatiable greed. How these particular murders were investigated was also the start of what we know today as the FBI. 

I am puzzled and troubled because I don’t recall learning about this part of US history. I believe this period of time and specific injustice with this tribe should be taught. I have sympathy for this whole nation of people we stole and murdered for wealth. It’s a tragic story. 

Although I am so thankful I read and gained an understanding of this time, I didn’t care for the format in which it was written. I felt like I was reading a history textbook. I did appreciate all the research and work that went into the accuracy of the information but I would have been more engaged with the book if there had been dialogue and written more as a creative-non fiction. I enjoyed the photos throughout of the family members and masterminds behind the murders which helped the story come to life. 

By all means, I am not discouraging you not to read this book. I have never been a fan of non-fiction writing but I am proud of myself for trying it! If you decide to pick it up, I hope you enjoy it! I think you will be moved emotionally by the story, as I was. 

I watched the movie a day after I finished the book. The book is usually better than the film but in this case, I’m reversing my usual protocol. There were definite differences between the two, including lots of detail written in the book but didn’t play into the movie. The characters were perfectly cast, and the actors who portrayed them were fantastic. I’m not surprised it was nominated for best picture!