Devery Jacobs, a well-known actress famous for her role in “Reservation Dogs,” recently voiced her criticism towards Martin Scorsese’s highly-anticipated film, “Killers of the Flower Moon.” In an interview with Heartland Magazine, Jacobs expressed her strong feelings about the film, describing it as “hellfire” for herself and fellow Native viewers.
Jacobs argues that the film fails to properly depict the Osage characters with honor and dignity, instead opting to dehumanize them through their portrayal of deaths. While she acknowledges the commendable performances of Indigenous actors in the movie, particularly highlighting Lily Gladstone’s portrayal of Mollie, Jacobs criticizes the glaring underdevelopment of the Osage characters in comparison to the white male characters.
A major point of contention raised by Jacobs is Scorsese’s decision to center the perspective of white characters in telling the story, thereby neglecting the agency and voice of Native people. She suggests that an Osage filmmaker would have been better suited to tackle this history, emphasizing the importance of Native representation both on-screen and behind the scenes.
In her emotional critique, Jacobs mourns the real-life Osage individuals who were ruthlessly murdered due to greed, pointing out that their pain extends far beyond the film’s runtime. She raises vital questions about the representation of Indigenous characters and the portrayal of historical trauma in film.
Despite the film receiving positive reviews and achieving significant box office success, this critique from Devery Jacobs serves as a wake-up call for the entertainment industry. It highlights the need for more authentic and respectful portrayals of Indigenous characters, as well as the necessity of allowing Native voices to tell their own stories.
As audiences demand more diverse and inclusive narratives, Jacobs’ critique provokes important conversations about the responsibility of filmmakers and the power of representation. Only by listening to and amplifying marginalized voices can the film industry truly progress towards a more accurate and meaningful portrayal of historical events and the diverse communities affected by them.
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