Leonardo DiCaprio, Martin Scorsese and Lily Gladstone reunited to discuss all things Killers of the Flower Moon.
The Hollywood heavyweights posed for the cover of Friday’s issue of Variety and got candid about the making of the drama, its long runtime and the glaring Oscar snub for star Leonardo.
Lily defended her costar to the outlet, stating that both she and her parents were outraged by the omission.
‘They were pissed,’ she said. ‘He was the first to text me congratulations, with popping confetti. I told him how upset we all were.’
The 96th annual Academy Award nominations were revealed on Tuesday morning and Martin landed his 10th Best Director nod while Lily received one for Best Actress, becoming the first Native American to be nominated in that category.
Leonardo DiCaprio, Martin Scorsese and Lily Gladstone reunited to dish on all things Killers of the Flower Moon
The Hollywood heavyweights posed for the cover of Friday’s issue of Variety and got candid about the making of the drama, its long runtime and the glaring award snub for star Leonardo
The 3 1/2 hour film received a total of eight more Oscar nominations – but the Titanic star was left out in the cold.
‘My nomination is equal parts his. I would not have been able to do what I did without his generosity as an actor and as a human being,’ Lily added.
In the film, Leo plays World War I veteran Ernest Burkhart, who falls in love with an Osage woman, Lily’s Mollie Kyle.
Scorsese chimed in, arguing Leo’s performance speaks for itself.
‘He went so far into the complexities and contradictions of a man who was so weak, so malleable, who did such unspeakable things, but who also truly loved his wife,’ the filmmaking icon explained.
‘Leo fearlessly created a true Everyman … an Everyman that people just don’t want to acknowledge. So that will endure.’
Leonardo has yet to make a public statement about the snub, although he did take to his Instagram to recognize the Oscar nominations.
‘Congratulations to my dear friend @LilyGladstone for making Oscars history, as the first Native American woman to be nominated for Best Actress in Killers Of The Flower Moon, and the fourth Indigenous actress to ever earn a nomination in the category,’ he gushed.
Lily defended her costar to the outlet, stating that both she and her parents were outraged by the omission
‘They were pissed,’ Lily said.’He was the first to text me congratulations, with popping confetti. I told him how upset we all were.’
Scorsese chimed in, arguing Leo’s performance speaks for itself
‘And to this powerful film’s nine other nominations – telling this story with all of you has been an honor.’
As for the criticism over the movie’s length, Scorsese explained to Variety, ‘I really don’t know how to respond to it except for the fact that many people seem to go with it.
‘This one felt right [at this length], and I felt that while I was watching it. I felt inside of it.’
Leonardo has yet to make a public statement about the snub, although he did take to his Instagram to recognize the Oscar nominations
In the film, Leo plays Wold War I veteran Ernest Burkhart, who falls in love with an Osage woman, Lily’s Mollie Kyle
Scorsese revealed he hired Lily for the role on the spot
He also talked about hiring Lily for the role on the spot.
‘What I saw Lily do in Certain Women —how she commanded the space and the screen and the emotional impact of what appeared to be minimal and very internal—that’s what I was looking for.
‘We had just started developing the character, and I felt that Lily had it in her. That she would seriously find her.’
