Film reviews

Killers of the Flower Moon Review

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Killers of the Flower Moon is yet another Martin Scorsese masterpiece. Unique and authentic, many years in the making, the murder-thriller brought mixed feelings and loads of suspense. It’s always great to see Leonardo DiCaprio and Scorsese working together and in this, their first film since Wolf of Wall Street back in 2013, there is truly a lot in store. Especially with Robert De Niro thrown in the mix.

Killers of the Flower Moon takes place in Oklahoma in the 1920s. Members of the Osage tribe are being murdered after oil is found on their land. The murders are grisly, the town is in shock, and the members of the tribe are scared for their life.

The film introduces its audience to Ernest Burkhart (DiCaprio) and William Hale (De Niro). Ernest is back in town after serving in the war and he starts working with William, who is his uncle. William is a big shot in the town, but he has some shady business practices, and maybe worse. He also resents sharing the land with the Osage tribe and this creates problems. Wealth and greed start to take center stage, and that is what William is all about. Ernest is married to a Native American, Mollie Burkhart (played by Lily Gladstone), and that adds to his problems. He’s also doing some of William’s dirty work, which puts he and Molly at risk. Law enforcement is lacking for a while, but nothing stays hidden for long in Killers of the Flower Moon.

Eventually the Bureau of Investigations (precursor to the FBI) begins to investigate the Osage murders. When Det. Tom White (played by Jesse Plemons) comes to town the tension grows for Ernest and William. The fear experienced by the Osage people is palpable and William’s desire for their land, and what he is willing to do to get it, is the cause of much of this fear. Ernest is mostly on the same page as William, but he doesn’t have the same personality as his uncle and their different personalities bring them down a road of conflict and deceit. The heightening anxiety that flows for the characters in Killers of the Flower Moon is also anxiety-provoking for the audience.

As a die-hard fan of the films of Martin Scorsese, Killers of the Flower Moon made me think of The Departed, my favorite Scorsese film of all time. The chemistry that DiCaprio has with De Niro in Killers of the Flower Moon is almost like the chemistry DiCaprio had with Jack Nicholson in The Departed. This one has a similar vibe, but the intensity is more mentally invigorating in this one than the extreme violence of The Departed. There is of course violence, that comes with territory, but Killers of the Flower Moon is relentless, thought-provoking, and truly dazzling on a psychological level. Some of the outcomes will also take its audiences by surprise. Three and a half out of four stars for Killers of the Flower Moon.

59th Chicago International Film Festival, Capsule Reviews, Film reviews

Eric LaRue Review

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This is a film experience in which the tension makes viewers uneasy . The issue of mental health and the associated acceptance of errors poses challenges. The story demonstrates that people we love can also make mistakes. Eric LaRue is one of the most dramatic, vivid, and powerful films I have seen directed by Michael Shannon. The film includes many strong and realistic elements which make it anxiety producing.

The film focuses on Janice LaRue (played by Judy Greer). She is the mother of a son who shot and killed three boys. Her son is Eric (played by Nation Sage Henrikson). Janice’s life is at an impasse due to her son’s actions. Her husband Ron (played by Alexander Skarsgard) tries to lean on religion to help him cope with their son’s tragedy. Ultimately, Janice struggles to adapt to a life filled with guilt and hatred after her son’s lethal mistake. The film is a poetic journey of life after a devastating tragedy. The story leaves a trail of difficult questions along the way.

Eric LaRue hit an emotional chord with me because it was so realistic. As someone who has faced struggles during various periods in my own life, the film raised my curiosity about how to be stronger after experiencing a traumatic event in life. The movie was full of humanistic elements which ranged from devastating to encouraging. Most parts of the film may leave audiences emotionally drained. However, some viewers may also hope for a revelation in the tragic aftermath at the center of the film.

From my vantage point, I believe the film portrays that there are ways in which parents can learn from their children. This can be true even if the choices their children make negatively impact others. Janice realizes that Eric has suffered with some mental issues and feelings of disconnect. She never imagined the worst-case scenario. Just because Eric did something terrible, it does not mean he is a terrible person. Still, he has to suffer the consequences for his behavior.

Janice’s life does not have to be ruined forever, and she does not have to hate herself forever. She needs to learn to navigate the harshness of her reality after the choices her son has made. There is still a world of different possibilities for Janice, for Eric, and for life moving forward for everyone in the film. Shannon’s is poetic in the way that it brings out natural human emotions. Eric LaRue changed my perspective on the realism displayed in movies. This experience made me realize how much one individual’s world can have a dramatic impact upon others while also allowing for light somewhere at the end of the tunnel.

Eric LaRue is not for everyone. Despite the sadness of the serious topic explored in the film, it does leave a positive message which I related to and appreciated. The film is an emotional roller coaster and a one-of-a-kind drama that will touch viewers in different ways. Three out of four stars.

Film reviews

Foe Review

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Foe is set in a near apocalypse where young love is tested. The film is based on the novel by Iain Reid published in 2018. Reid also co-wrote the screenplay with director Garth Davis. The film will leave audiences wondering what can change in the future due to love and the trends of a new era. What goes around, comes around in Foe. It is a film filled with parallel angles for acouple played by Saoirse Ronan and Paul Mescal as husband and wife. The young love between the two makes the audience curious about their fate. Their solitude married life turns into a sci-fi revelation. However, it can lead to dire consequences.

The year is 2065. The setting is a secluded farm where thecouple, Hen and Junior, live. The farm has been in Junior’s family for many years. Hen and Junior find themselves in a mixed place with each other. One day, a stranger comes to their door out of the blue. His name is Terrance (played by Aaron Pierre), and he offers Hen and Junior a proposal that will change their life forever. Terrance offers Junior the opportunity to take on a job at an orbiting space station. However, Hen cannot go. Junior wants the mission but does not want to leave his wife. Hen wants what is best for Junior but feels a sense of disconnect. The solitary lifestyle that Hen and Junior live is not free of problems. Terrance involves himself in their life by using artificial intelligence and all kinds of eerie experiments to bring new revelations into all their lives. The film explores the future of artificial intelligence and reveals that it does not always find a proper balance with love.

Foe’s direction is spellbinding, the emotions are poetic, and the tension is strong. There are complicated dynamics between Hen, Junior, and Terrance. What is Terrence trying to do? Create something better for Hen and Foe? Create something revolutionary for himself? Is there more to the future that Hen and Junior are not aware of? Is Terrance bringing any positive change to the life of Hen and Junior? Ultimately, there is more dramatics to the power of love in Foe. Love is hard, and the sci-fi narrative of Foe adds that concept to the futuristic reality that is the center of this movie. Ultimately, the reversal of time in this enthralling setting falls flat which is why there are many unanswered questions.

Foe is promising to the audience because of the feelings Junior and Hen have for each other. The performances of Ronan and Mescal are deep. What Terrance is doing to them may seem beneficial, but also, they are in love. Do they want their relationship to have other unnecessary elements? The secluded life they lead is where their struggle is. Could a change in their reality offer something better? Only Junior and Hen can know what is right for them. Terrance can only provide what his offer has in store.

The future of Foe may have a light that comes fromchange, or a could involve a life that is in a turmoil of sadness. The young love between Junior and Hen is where Foe thrives. Once Terrance is part of the picture, the writing and direction go awry. Fortunately, the film does not go downhill dreadfully, but does lose its pacing and fails to be totally engrossing. Thankfully, the cinematography of the settings remains strong throughout. Two-and-a-half out of four stars for Foe.

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