MOVIE: August: Osage County

Leo Tolstoy once said (in his book «Anna Karenina» to be precise) that every happy family looks the same while every unhappy one is unhappy in its own way. All of this is true for the Westons who we should call a dysfunctional family or, putting it mildly, a bunch of noisy, unsympathetic people who gather around the table few times a year secretly wishing they weren't there. Thoroughly familiar picture for lots of us out there, isn't it?

August: Osage County is originally a darkly comedic play by Tracy Letts. It was awarded Pulitzer Prize for Drama as well as being staged in the USA and the UK plenty of times rather successfully. The film is directed by John Wells and produced by George Clooney and yes, there would be a lot of famous names, so be prepared.

 In the adapted script the story revolves around a family of a drug-addicted wife with cancer, a husband - used-to-be famous poet and current old drunk, their three forty-something daughters and all the rest. The actual reason why all the family comes to Oklahoma is Beverly (father) who has suddenly gone missing but August: Osage County is more or less painfully realistic indie drama about women: miscellaneous, strong-willed and deep.

Now, there may not be too many remarkable ideas or smashing cinematography, or dynamic plot. After all, it is a theatrical drama and this time I'm truly grateful for the lack of special effects and quick change of locations. In fact, what it keeps it together and gives you chills is a superb acting by the unbelievably harmonious ensemble of the best. Having got tired of breaking bounds with its predecessor, the theatre, Hollywood is going back to basics: women are not forced to look 17ish in their 40s, every shot is meaningful and symbolic while every cue is worth quoting.  

The setting adds to drama and tension significantly: August in Osage County is hot like hell. Left to deal with each for the first time in a very long time, mother and her daughters, each one a vivid character, are slightly overplayed just like it should be in theatre by Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Juliette Lewis and Julianna Nicholson.  

I will tell you that I was worried Meryl Streep would outshine everyone else like she usually does but this time every actor is right in her/his place and the question of whether or not the cast of A-lists is relevant simply can't be raised. Nevertheless, she is stunning in her performance and she's equally lucky to have played such a character in her life. Violet is wicked, obnoxious, sleazy old lady, yet there is some magnetic force involved when she delivers her lines. 

To say the truth, unlike Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts has never been my favourite, neither did I consider her a serious artist but I had to change my mind because she was tremendously convincing in her role of a demanding and controlling daughter. 

I can't say that the male cast was brilliant and leave it there, so instead I'll say that Benedict
Cumberbatch was dazzling (like you ever doubted that) leaving his sociopathic-intelligent-rich boy background far behind. Not a typecast - splendid. 

We love judging almost like we love comparing ourselves with other and looking for flaws. August: Osage County gives you exactly what you want - a quick glimpse through the keyhole into the house of an American family. Is it a domestic drama? A kitchen sink realism? Honestly, I don't think so. It is rather a story about life, death, love and everything in between. Do you have to watch it? I think you already know.

Directed by	John Wells
Produced by	George Clooney Jean Doumanian Grant Heslov Steve Traxler Bob Weinstein Harvey Weinstein
Written by	Tracy Letts
Based on	August: Osage County by Tracy Letts
Starring	Meryl Streep Julia Roberts Ewan McGregor Chris Cooper Abigail Breslin Benedict Cumberbatch Juliette Lewis Margo Martindale Dermot Mulroney Julianne Nicholson Sam Shepard Misty Upham
Music by	Gustavo Santaolalla
Cinematography	Adriano Goldman
Editing by	Stephen Mirrione
Studio	Smokehouse Pictures
Distributed by	The Weinstein Company
Release dates	September 9, 2013 (TIFF) December 27, 2013(United States)
Running time	120 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$20 million
Box office	$38,448,511

 Wikipedia

MOVIE: Twelve Years A Slave Named Best Drama At Golden Globe Awards

First thing you have to know about 12 Years A Slave is that it is a film about slavery. Secondly, it is nothing like its predecessors. It is based on a book by Solomon Northup, a free black musician from New York who was kidnapped, shipped to the South and sold to the owner of a Louisiana plantation in 1841. And this is exactly what makes this story so outstanding and shockingly truthful. The main difference is actually a chance for a viewer to relate to the protagonist. Imagine a free man, a family man whose life is just like any other. He is well-mannered, sophisticated and respected. Then one morning he wakes up in chains. The life he is used to is far behind, the new one holds nothing but never-ending suffering. 

Steve McQueen has done a magnificent work here on every level. For now, I would particularly like to point out how colour is tremendously significant in this film. For instance, when Solomon finds himself in a cell, there is only one source of light provided by the small barred prison window, and we share his confusion having seen soft and warm candlelight at the fancy restraunt where he dined. 

The nature which is apparently only a background for action in such films here reinforces a contrast between a beautiful world, full of hope and all the injustice and pain. You literally can't stop admiring it. The grass is ever so green, the sun is always shining, the camera is constantly moving giving them all a proper credit. In fact, there is one jaw-dropping, ethereally beautiful sunset that made me hold my breath. 12 Years A Slave is a painting – artful, complex and ruthless in exposing people's vices. 

Steve McQueen on the set of 12 YEARS A SLAVE

McQueen continues the tradition of extended shots directing his third act. Here he forces an audience into looking at something they may not be comfortable with and stay there for quite a long time. Although this technique is rather tricky to use, in this case it works out perfectly giving us a break from 1-2 seconds shots in mainstream Hollywood cinema as well as challenging us with more drama. He is not too cautious with the raw material letting the story flow from one part to another. 

However, 12 Years A Slave is not easy to watch. Some parts of it are actually brutal, appalling and emotionally devastating because they tell a shaming, sugar-free truth.

It is superbly acted by a bunch of extraordinary actors: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael K. Williams,Benedict Cumberbatch, Michael Fassbender, Brad Pitt and Lupita Nyong'o. Each of them was great and more importantly, they formed a marvellous ensemble. Chiwetel Ejiofor's (Solomon Northup) acting in 12 Years A Slave was one of the most brilliant performances I have seen in my life. He is present, horrifyingly convincing and able to make you forget about where you are and step into the film itself. His story is soul-crushing but it is also very powerful, simply incredible. I dare say, you will surely get you to that point where you can't just go home and keep doing whatever it is you are doing in this time of the day. 

I intended this review as spoiler free, so I will only mention that Benedict Cumberbatch's Mr.Ford repels me even though he might seem one of the pleasant white people there. And yes, his part was shamefully small, but he has managed to portray his rather equivocal character wonderfully.

If talk about Brad Pitt whose part is even smaller, he just nails it. He is an A-list actor and he proves he is worth it every single time.

Main female part played by Lupita Nyong'o (Patsey) is going to be really memorable too. It is her debut in British film as a Kenyan actress and she has a very bright future in front of her, mark my words. I do not want to describe what Michael Fassbender was like this time because you has to watch it with your own eyes. He is going to be the one who quotes the Bible and claims he has got the right to treat live people like his property from God himself and you are going to be really properly scared. 

In short, 12 Years A Slave is essential movie going: smart and well thought-out narrative cinema rather than action-packed, sloppy cash-cow. I shall be quite disappointed if it does not get an Oscar, honestly. Still, there has been a Golden Globe, so maybe I should not give up hope.