Review of August: Osage County (2013) by Ray H — 21 Feb 2014

This an adaptation of a stage play. Various family members and others gather for a funeral. Long simmering conflicts come to the fore with all kinds of emotions and acting out. I am not a fan of plays brought to the big screen. Often, the movie is set in only one or two locations. There is a lot of dialogue and very little physical movement to the story. I decided to see this film because of the outstanding cast assembled for it.

The movie did not disappoint. There were sterling performances by virtually everyone involved. Of special note were the family matriarch, Violet (Meryl Streep). She is a self-centered, super mean, brow beating, family head. Streep is very good. One of her daughters is Barbara (Julia Roberts). Roberts is excellent as well. Some of the best scenes are of Streep and Roberts going at each other. I especially liked seeing another daughter, Karen (Juliette Lewis). Ms. Lewis is very good, playing slightly off-kilter, vulnerable, tentative characters. All the others actors were also first rate.

It was a good trip to the flics.