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