Martin Scorsese’s sweeping crime-drama that unravels the chilling true story of greed, murder, and betrayal in 1920s America.
The film is set in Oklahoma during the oil boom, when the Osage Nation; Native Americans who had discovered oil on their land suddenly became some of the richest people in the world. Their wealth, however, drew envy and predators.
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Into this world arrives Ernest Burkhart, a war veteran, who falls in love with Mollie, a wealthy Osage woman. At first, their romance seems genuine, but as the story unfolds, it becomes clear Ernest is entangled in a sinister plot.
His uncle, William Hale, a powerful and seemingly benevolent local figure, is orchestrating a campaign of terror. Under his command, Osage people are systematically murdered so their oil wealth can be stolen.
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Poisonings, shootings, and staged accidents claim lives, while law enforcement looks the other way. Ernest, torn between love for his wife and loyalty to his uncle, becomes both participant and victim in the crimes.
The murders escalate, and the Osage community is plunged into fear and grief. Their cries for justice eventually reach Washington, leading to the birth of what would later become the FBI. Investigators arrive, peeling back the layers of corruption and deceit. As the walls close in, Ernest’s moral collapse becomes the central tragedy: he betrays the woman who truly loved him, all for money and manipulation.
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The final act is devastating with Mollie, gravely ill from deliberate poisoning, confronts the depth of Ernest’s betrayal. The truth is exposed in court, but no amount of justice can restore the countless lives lost. Scorsese closes the film not with grand heroics, but with a chilling reminder of America’s dark history where greed devoured love, and entire communities paid the price.
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Director: Martin Scorsese
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Lily Gladstone, Robert De Niro, Jesse Plemons, Tantoo Cardinal
Runtime: 3h 26m
Watch trailer here
