Available today (April 8, 2014) on Blu-ray, DVD and combo pack is the film August: Osage County. The film features an all start cast including Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Ewan McGregor, Juliette Lewis, Chris Cooper, Abigail Breslin, Sam Shepard and Dermot Mulroney.
Meryl Streep was nominated for a Golden Globe® for Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy and Julia Roberts for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture for their roles in August: Osage County. The film also received two Academy Award® nominations including Meryl Streep for Best Actress and Julia Roberts for Best Supporting Actress.
August: Osage County is based on the 2008 Pulitzer Prize play by Tracy Letts.
August: Osage County is the story about the world’s most dysfunctional family (or so it would seem). All families have their quirks, issues and secrets – including mine. After seeing this movie I suddenly feel like our immediate and extended family is perfect by comparison. LOL!
I don’t know I thought this was a comedy. There was nothing funny about it. If anything it was emotionally draining. There is A LOT of drama happening in this family. I think I got whiplash trying to keep up with everything.
The story centers around Violet (Meryl Streep). She’s a drug abusing alcoholic who is dealing with mouth cancer due to her many years of smoking. Her husband, Beverly (Sam Sheppard) up and disappears one day and Violet has no idea where he is. She calls upon her family – daughters Barbara (Julia Roberts), Ivy (Julianne Nicholson) and Karen (Juliette Lewis) – and her sister Mattie Faye (Margo Martindale) to come home and be with her during this difficult time. No sooner does everyone arrive that they find out that fate of Beverly – he has passed away.
The loss of a family member and the fact that each family member has brought along their personal “luggage” makes for some explosive situations including a knock down fight between Violet and Barbara.
This movie has it all… suicide, adultery, questionable parenthood, drug abuse, a rebellious teen, broken marriages… you name it this movie has it.
If you are into deep, emotional dramas then you’ll love August: Osage County. Personally I felt that the film was too “heavy” for me. I felt the need to pop in SpongeBob immediately afterwards so I could process the film better. The night that I watched the film I couldn’t get it out of my mind as I laid there trying to fall asleep.
Don’t get me wrong, this is a very good movie. The acting was superb. There is a reason by Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts were up for awards for their roles in this film. They were outstanding as was most of the cast of the film. The movie is fantastic – it was just too deep and emotional for my tastes.
Visually the movie was beautiful too. The landscape and outdoor scenes worked very well with this film.
August: Osage County has several bonus features too including The Making of August: Osage County (I always love to see behind the scenes things and how movies came to be) as well as deleted scenes. There is also audio commentary but I never use that feature when watching a movie. I find it too distracting.
Look for August: Osage County where ever most movies are sold.
Here is the film’s trailer for your enjoyment.
Kimberly
*I received a free screener copy in order to do this review. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own and not influenced in any way.
Interesting. I haven’t seen it and I agree that sometimes a movie can be too deep (you want to escape from reality, not be dragged down watching something that is supposed to entertain you).
I want to see this movie, but yes I do have a suspicion that it is the kind movie that I won’t be able to get anyone else in the family to watch with me…let alone my husband.
Thank you for the honest review. I lunch with some ladies once a week and they also commented on the heaviness of the movie and did not recommend it. I don’t think I am interested in this type of movie. I like movies that make me laugh, ones that are warm and cozy or ones that uplift me.