Review of August: Osage County (2013) by Jonathan B — 22 Apr 2017
This is a great family drama starring Meryl Streep as a tyrannical matriarch and Julia Roberts as one of her daughters. As members of the Weston family head to the family home following the suicide of their father, dark secrets emerge and skeletons just keep on rattling out of those closets.
It is a comedy of the deepest black with plenty high melodrama along the way. The movie builds towards one of the most excruciating family meals where the acid-tongued Streep launches into several family members, taking no prisoners.
The movie is also peppered with some deeply touching and moving scenes which help to sweeten the bitter nature of the plot and I was moved to tears at a number of points. Amongst the cast, I particularly liked Margo Martindale as Aunt Mattie Fae and Misty Upham as Johnna, the ever present, watchful and sensible nurse/housemaid.
With both the leads giving fine performances and some lovely uses of the Oklahoma plains, there's very little that's not to like in August: Osage County as long as you're not expecting the Partridge Family.
This review of August: Osage County (2013) was written by Jonathan B on 22 Apr 2017.
August: Osage County has generally received positive reviews.
Was this review helpful?
