Yesterday finally found me sitting in a movie theater to watch Killers Of The Flower Moon. At 3 hours and 26 minutes, this Martin Scorsese film is inspired by the David Grann nonfiction book of the same name.

I had the distinct pleasure to hear Grann speak about this book back in 2018. If you’re interested, click this link to read about that experience. At the time, he was excited to tell us his book would be adapted into film and I have anticipated this day ever since.

There was a time I struggled to watch a movie after reading the book. Film adaptations rarely measure up to the written word. I purposely didn’t revisit the book because I didn’t want to be biased against whatever creative liberties would be taken.

It’s an extraordinary book about a shocking series of murders that took place in Oklahoma’s Osage Nation in the 1920s. I lack the proper words to describe how horrifying, how evil these murders were and they were committed in the name of nothing more than pure greed.

Scorsese took several liberties with the story but I forgive most because he still tells a compelling story and shines a bright light on this shameful chapter in our nation’s history that had been all but forgotten by time.

The sets and costumes are spot on and there are some creative choices in casting. Musicians Jason Isbell and Sturgill Simpson are among the surprises that I enjoyed most. This movie downplays the extent of the murders and it paints one of the perpetrators in an oddly sympathetic light.

If you get a chance, read the book. It really is better because it fills in many blanks and details the extent of the crimes. If you have about 3.5 hours, watch the film too.

This story deserves to be heard by whatever means you can manage.