It’s not exactly groundbreaking to say that money can exert a corrupting influence over us. Money isn’t what makes life worth living, but it is what makes the lives most of us live possible. Money is the bridge between us and the vast majority of our material needs and desires, allowing us to have stuff like computers, tomato seeds, and novelty pillowcases with the infamous “Hey, you. You’re finally awake” Skyrim screenshot printed on them. You don’t need to know about my bedroom decor, though, for the purposes of today’s helping of stale humor and cringe-inducing attempts at artistic analysis you just need to know that money compels people to do evil things sometimes, especially if you’re an avaricious man-about-town looking to get rich with the help of his pliable nephew. Such is the motivation for William Hale and Ernest Burkhart of Killers of the Flower Moon, a 2023 historical drama directed by Martin Scorsese and based on the book by David Grann. Flower Moon seems tailor made for Oscar season, what with its prestigious cast, legendary director, and classically old Hollywood trappings, and it certainly has garnered a tailwind of buzz and acclaim in that regard. In their desperate grasps at relevancy, then, the hosts of Magellans at the Movies tuned in to Scorsese’s latest and are prepared to dispense their opinions. Let’s proceed with the proceedings!
