AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY

Basically…

When Violet’s (Meryl Streep) husband dies, her dysfunctional family reunite in rural Oklahoma for the funeral. The cancer-stricken, pill-popping mother of three leads the bickering and tantrums as home truths are told and secrets are revealed in this character drama.

In other words…

The sad reality that mum’s aren’t the indestructible heroes you grew up believing they were.

The main men and leading ladies…

“Meryl Streep could play Batman and be the right choice, she’s perfection” said Cam from Modern Family. And never was a truer word spoken. Nominated for a record 18^th time at the Academy Awards, Streep is a strong contender to lift her fourth Best Actress gong. A typically outstanding performance as the frail, lost and troubled leader of the family, this film wouldn’t have half the emotion it does if she wasn’t the leading lady.

Julia Roberts’ stand out performance as the eldest daughter emphasises the strain and frustration between loved ones, while Benedict Cumberbatch has to be mentioned for his shy and reserved portrayal of  ‘Little Charles’ which was precious.

In the chair…

With a theatre background, John Wells was a trusty candidate to turn this play into a movie. Shooting entirely on location, Wells even had some of his characters stay in the house during rehearsals to help enhance that family feel. Known for his TV shows more than anything, the man who produced ER and The West Wing was able to maintain that theatre feel by focusing on character development and setting the majority of the film over such a short period of time.

So…?

While Nebraska was the son’s experience of his Dad’s downfall, this is the powerful opposing version. As mother and daughters struggle with the passing of time, changes to the family and the inevitable aging they are all experiencing, this is a poignant and hard-hitting tale about reality. What it lacked though, was the black humour which Nebraska pulled off perfectly. While that was a film of equal helpings, literally leaving you laughing at one scene before welling up at the next, August: Osage County leaned more towards the heartbreak and tension with just the odd humour thrown in to keep the spirits up. None of the characters are particularly endearing either, but then, that’s real life isn’t it.

Worth the money?
It’s worth it for the excellent acting alone, but don’t blame me when you go home feeling bummed out.