Review of August: Osage County (2013) by Freeman M — 16 Feb 2014

"August: Osage County" is a dysfunctional family explosion that might go over the county-line on occasion with "over the top" family frenzy, but it's otherwise a worthy flick. The film stars Meryl Streep as Violet Weston, an outspoken Oklahoma mother of three adult females. She is a pill-popping drug addict who has succumbed to mouth cancer and is going through her last round of chemotherapy. She is an angry woman who tends to criticize all of her daughters and their significant others. When Violet's husband Beverly runs off unannounced, Violet's three daughters and company go to her home to support her and help her find Beverly, who might have just ran off to Beverly Hills. However, what turns out is a dysfunctional family verbal and even physical showdown; especially in the film's eventful dinner scene. So yea, here there are plenty of feisty dog days in August in Osage County. The movie is actually based on the award-winning play by Tracy Letts. And the film's director John Wells even Letts let in the fun by having him write the film's screenplay adapted from his critically-acclaimed play. Letts did not let us down with his gripping screenplay, and Wells did pretty well himself in the movie's osagestration, I mean orchestration. However, it was the ensemble acting of "August: Osage County" that was its strongest point. Streep was being her streepish self with her thundering starring performance as Violet Weston. And the rest of the Weston Girls were pretty darn good themselves; especially Julia Roberts as Violet's eldest daughter Barbara, and Julianne Nicholson as Violet's cousin-kissing daughter Ivy. Roberts though has not been this good in a while; it was satisfying to see the pretty woman revitalize her pretty thespian chops again. Other notable standout supporting performances derived from Margo Martindale as Violet's sister Mattie Fae, and Chris Cooper as Mattie Fae's husband Charlie; who presents the most comical dinner table prayer in the history of motion pictures. So even though it's not flawless, I still recommend a viewing trip to "August: Osage County".

**** Good.