Movie Review

August: Osage County

After a family tragedy (in August) an estranged family gather in the family home (in Osage County). Over a few unusually hot days, the family rides a series of increasingly dangerous emotional rollercoasters. And because Meryl Streep isn’t satisfied with her three Oscars already, no one is getting off the rollercoaster unscathed.

Directed by former ER and The West Wing showrunner John Wells and adapted by Tracy Letts from her own successful play, August: Osage County is probably the sort of film that will get better with age. It is certainly an experience that is more enjoyable in memory than in viewing. Streep’s portrayal of the drugged up matriarch is really quite a show, although there’s a lingering thought that maybe the character is so outrageous, it is actually quite easy for Streep to play the extreme. But her character is awful: a villain worse than in most action movies. She is unconscionable, disregarding everyone else’s emotions for her own enjoyment. It’s quite a sight.

The supporting cast are all wonderful, particularly Chris Cooper and Benedict Cumberbatch as a supportive father and son duo. Cooper steals the entire film, in my view, with a particularly agonising monologue towards the end of the film.

A strong character-based drama with some terrific acting. Watch it with a bottle of wine if need be because it’s not the sort of movie that will leave a smile on your face. 4/5

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