Sophia Michaels
Killers of the Flower Moon had a big opening this weekend, giving Martin Scorsese his biggest box office weekend since Shutter Island in 2010. This is a win for the 3.5 hour period drama, which still put audiences in seats despite its length and somber subject matter. It is also a win for audiences who were able to witness what critics are calling a masterpiece from the famed filmmaker. The film is being heavily discussed online, and it seems like everyone can agree on at least one thing, that Jesse Plemons is magnificent in the film.
Many took to X (formally Twitter) to give their hot takes on the Leonardo DiCaprio-led epic, and while lots of actors are getting plenty of love for their work in the film, Plemons’ introduction two thirds of the way through was a welcome surprise for many audiences. He shows up with a little over an hour left, but uses his screen time to really shine, and this didn’t go unnoticed. Fans not only highlighted his performance, but also his costume that made his first scene incredibly memorable. One X user said:
jesse plemons walks into killers of the flower moon with one hour left wearing a big ass hat and a shady lil smile and says ‘i’ll take it from here,’ and moments like this are the reason we go to the movies
Playing off of such a magnetic performer like DiCaprio is no easy feat, but Plemmons does so with ease, stealing the show for a chunk of the third act. For context, the character actor plays FBI agent Tom White, who goes to Osage territory in Oklahoma to investigate the mysterious murders happening throughout the film. He’s a commanding presence, and is a great juxtaposition to DiCaprio’s bumbling, easily manipulated “Earnest” character. Some even claimed he gave one of the best performances they’d ever seen, tweeting:
‘best performance I’ve ever seen in my life’ -me talking about Jesse Plemons playing an fbi agent
Another fan on X used a reaction meme from Top Gun: Maverick, to show how their interest was immediately captured when Plemons came on screen.
Me when Jesse Plemons appeared in Killers of The Flower Moon pic.twitter.com/tqgKqs5kwuOctober 20, 2023
For some, this was their introduction to the Oscar nominee, who has become a staple of character dramas over the years. One fan, who seemingly was seeing him for the first time, was so captivated by the actor’s performance, that he became an instant favorite of theirs, tweeting:
- Me: I don’t know who Jesse Plemons is.
- Me: watches a movie where he has like ten minutes of screen time
- Me: I would *die* for national treasure Jesse Plemons.
Lastly, one user echoed the point that even though Plemmons was a late entry to Killers of the Flower Moon, he still was able to showcase his acting chops in a big way. They said on X:
wild how Jesse Plemons doesn’t show up until 2.5 hours (?) into Killers of the Flower Moon and yet that still leaves enough time for him to be great in a very substantial part
While his strength as an actor may have come as a surprise to those less familiar with his work, those who were already fans of Plemons were likely less surprised. He has been cast in the films of auteur directors like Paul Thomas Anderson, Jane Champion, Steven Spielberg. And this is the second time he has worked with Scorsese. He even reportedly turned down playing a major role in Jordan Peele’s Nope to work on this film. He is an unstoppable force that is finally getting the attention he deserves, and even in a sea of Academy Award-worthy performances by DiCaprio, Lily Gladstone, and Robert De Niro, he still is able to stand out. His scenes alone are worth the price of admission.
You can see Jesse Plemons, and the rest of the all-star cast of Killers of the Flower Moon, by checking out the film playing in theaters nationwide. The crime drama will also be available to Apple TV+ subscribers in the near future. Fans of the actor should also check out our feature on what else to watch if you like the Breaking Bad star.
