Family isn’t always pretty, and no where is this more evident than in August: Osage County, an adaptation of the stage play by Tracy Letts. The Weston family is full of unlikable folk, but they’re family, and August: Osage County perfectly captures the highs and lows of what comes with it. A darkly comedic tale of forgiveness and acceptance, Osage County is propelled by an outstanding cast of crazy characters, and a surprising amount of heart given the subject matter.

Like I said, Osage County is based on the play of the same name. Tracy Letts helped write the screenplay for the film, and John Wells directed. We are introduced to Violet Weston, the pill-popping addict and matriarch of the Weston clan. After an event brings the family together, they are thrown back into their Oklahoma home and must deal with each other and their baggage. There is a lot of shouting, and a lot of throwing things and cursing, but the Weston family captures surprisingly real dialogue and a lot of heart, even if these characters are unlikable assholes.

Osage County features a ridiculous ensemble cast, with Meryl Streep headlining as Violet. Her three daughters, Barbara (Julia Roberts), Ivy (Julianne Nicholson), and Karen (Juliette Lewis), all have lives of their own, and they all have a little of Violet’s personality in them. Violet is a complex and dark character. Loaded with prescription medications and addicted to cigarettes, Violet is a changed woman, as she hires a maid after her husband leaves her and must live without him. Streep gives an outstanding performance, Oscar-worthy, and she is equally matched by Roberts, who also deserves a nomination.

The Weston family is a complex family, and as they deal with each other, you start to get involved in their complicated and not-so-pretty lives. The dialogue is surprisingly real, with family fights and conflicting personalities coming center stage at a climactic family dinner scene, that ends with everyone on top of each other and a lot of screaming.

But the Westons aren’t the only ones with their own baggage. Barbara has a rough relationship with her ex-husband Bill (Ewan McGregor) and their daughter Jean (Abigail Breslin). Karen brought this year’s man Steve (Dermot Mulroney), and Violet’s sister Mattie Fae Aiken (Margo Martindale) stops by, with her husband Charlie (Chris Cooper), and their son Little Charles (Benedict Cumberbatch). Now if this sounds like a huge cast, it definitely is, and at times it is overwhelming, but the Weston family is an interesting bunch, and Letts does a nice job of keeping you updated on the family and who’s who.

All of these actors are fantastic in their own rights, but there’s a certain chemistry among the extended Weston family, that captures a reality that I’ve rarely seen in a family drama. It’s compelling, with outstanding performances and outstanding dialogue that actually feels real, delivered by real actors and not robots. Besides Streep and Roberts, Martindale stands up next to Streep, and finally has a role to call her own. Breslin also plays an angst teen quite well, and McGregor also shines. The breakout star, for me at least, is Julianne Nicholson, who plays the film’s only likable character.

August: Osage County might feel like Oscar-bait to some, but it’s quite the opposite. It will be passed over by most audiences dismissing Streep as taking home the Oscar already, but they’d be missing out an outstanding family drama that truly captures the highs and lows of family life. At times, though, Osage County feels a bit too much like a reality tv drama, something you’d find on TLC. Sometimes it seems like it’s a competition of who can yell the loudest, with Roberts coming out on top most times. It’s not distracting, but sometimes the film loses itself amidst the loud yelling.

August: Osage County might be this year’s overlooked gem. A deeply dark and personal family drama, Osage County delivers remarkable performances courtesy of Streep, Roberts, Martindale, Nicholson, and too many to count. The screen (stage) never gets too crowded, and as you become invested in these character’s lives, you feel something yourself that makes you want to go home and hug your mother. It’s an outstanding film, a brilliant adaptation of the well-written play, and a must-see for the holidays.

Overall: 3.5 stars out of 4



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