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    August: Osage County

    Reviewed by
    adamwatchesmovies@

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    Whenever a film based on a play comes out, the big question is “What does this big-screen version bring that I couldn’t get out of seeing it live, with actors on stage? ” In the case of the 2013 production of “August: Osage County”, it’s powerhouse performances so good you’ll be as energized as you would be if the actors and actresses were right there in front of you. Featured here are Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Ewan McGregor, Chris Cooper, Abigail Bresling, Juliette Lewis and Benedict Cumberbatch. What’s it about? A strained family get together at the parent’s house during an unusually hot August. Beverly Weston (Shepard) is the alcoholic patriarch who used to be a noted writer but has since devolved into a depressed mess. He disappears, prompting the mother Violet (Streep, who looks like she’s aged 10 years for the role) to call in the daughters and immediate family for some support. She wasn’t exactly a nice woman to start off with, so you can imagine her family is less than thrilled to come see her when she’s in this situation. Nobody really gets along so you can bet drama’s just around the corner.

    When I say drama, I don’t mean that kind of sad drama about people revealing their love and regrets to each other; I’m talking about screaming, fighting, power struggles and old hatreds rearing their ugly heads. Pretty much everyone involved has a big revelation to share with the rest of the family and as more and more is revealed, it gets worse and worse until everyone blows up. At the center of it all is Violet. You’ve heard of mothers that are rude, abrasive and have that knack for getting under the skin of everyone around her. Now imagine that person with absolutely no control over her mouth. She’s using her illness (mouth cancer) as an excuse to be as cruel as the worst villains you’ve seen, but you don’t know what to make of her. Is it ok to hate a woman that’s suffering from cancer and addicted to drugs? Watch this movie and I think you’ll agree with me that yes it is. There is a lot going on in this film in terms of unresolved issues and soon-to-blow powder kegs. I suppose in that way it very much feels like a play and less like a movie but I enjoyed all of the stories. Some characters (I feel a bit guilty admitting this) I even looked forward to seeing them melt down as they were confronted by everyone else. It’s entertaining drama.

    This movie actually has some really funny moments. You’re taken aback by some of the comments made by Violet and you can’t help but chuckle. There’s also something very funny about seeing a family trying to get along when it’s clear to everyone, including the people in the room, that they should just invent a story about being an orphan and never come see each other ever again. At a certain point there are just so many dramatic revelations that you just give up and up and laugh as it all goes from bad to worse and then keeps on going until the only word you could use to describe the family would be absolutely catastrophic.

    A flaw I found is that there’s nothing about this that really makes you forget that you are essentially watching a play with a bigger budget. I found that despite the dialogue being good, the performances being excellent and the characters being interesting, this story never quite gripped me as much as it should have because there is an air of artifice in every scene. It’s not a big flaw in the film but if your ears can’t stand the dialogue as it is written in plays, I’m not sure how you’ll feel about this one. Like I said earlier though, this film has some unforgettable performances and everyone involved is firing on all cylinders. It’s the kind of movie that has some re-watch value because even though the surprises will be gone, it’ll actually work in the film’s favor. You’ll be able to sit back and examine the actors and actresses honing their craft to perfection and there’s always something satisfying about seeing professional at their best.

    Seeing the film in a crowded theatre is the way to go when it comes to this ensemble piece so I encourage you to watch it on the big screen. Not because of the spectacle, but because it’s one of those where hearing people gasp and chuckle out of surprise will enhance the experience significantly. It falls into the trappings of a play, but what “August: Osage County” does right earns it a high recommendation. (theatrical version on the big screen, January 30, 2014)

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    adamwatchesmovies@  28.2.2015 age: 26-35 2,867 reviews

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