Killers Of The Flower Moon

Need to Know
Killers of the Flower Moon is a 2023 epic Western crime drama. Set in 1920s’ Oklahoma, the film depicts the murders of the Osage people and explores a string of brutal crimes, conspiracy, racism and the early days of the FBI.

Director: Martin Scorsese
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Lily Gladstone, Jesse Plemons, Tantoo Cardinal, John Lithgow, Brendan Fraser, Cara Jade Myers, Jason Isbell

Why Is It Worth Watching?
Based on the 2017 non-fiction book of the same name by David Grann, the events of the movie take place at the turn of the 20th century when the Osage Nation, like many indigenous tribes of North America, were pushed West by white colonists, until finally settling in a rocky area of land that would become the state of Oklahoma. However, when oil was discovered on Osage territory, they became some of the richest people in the world overnight.
The plot follows the turmoil that occurs when the wealth of these Native Americans attracts nefarious outsiders who devise ways to steal the tribe’s money. They manipulate, extort and swindle as much Osage money as they can before completely giving in to their greed and resorting to murder.
The improbable romance between Ernest Burkhart (DiCaprio) and Mollie Kyle (Gladstone) is highlighted as it starts off with genuine love but then devolves into unspeakable levels of betrayal – all in the name of money. Scorsese masterfully crafts this historical drama and sharply spotlights the evil and injustice operating in plain sight during this period.

The Iron Claw

Need to Know
The Iron Claw is a 2023 biographical sports drama film based on the life of professional wrestler Kevin Von Erich and his family.

Director: Sean Durkin
Cast: Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, Harris Dickinson, Maura Tierney, Stanley Simons, Holt McCallany, Lily James, Maxwell Jacob Friedman, Brady Pierce, Aaron Dean Eisenberg

Why Is It Worth Watching?
The film is based on true events centred around the Von Erich family, a dynasty of professional wrestlers from Texas, USA, that had great success in the early 1980s and were well known for popularising the ‘iron claw’ professional wrestling hold.
The plot follows the trials and tribulations faced by the Von Erich brothers on their road to success inside the ring, but also highlights the string of unbearable personal misfortunes and tragedies faced by them outside of it, which came to be known as the ‘Von Erich curse’.
On the one hand their mother tried to protect them by instilling a strong sense of faith in them. While on the other, a domineering father and coach with sky-high expectations and demanding standards, harshly trained them to be the toughest and strongest, so nothing could ever hurt them.
The movie emphatically depicts the pressures and difficulties the brothers faced to meet those expectations, especially in an era and industry where any male vulnerability was seen as weakness. The performances and intense storyline effectively present a cautionary tale about parental influence, sibling rivalry and the various dangers of the professional wrestling business.