“August: Osage County” is a hard pill to swallow. It’s based on a Pulitzer Prize-winning play of the same name and could be categorized as a dysfunctional family drama with pinches of dark comedy. It features a star-studded cast led by Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts and a premise that may have a lot of appeal to some audiences. But underneath all of the big acting from big stars lies a coarse and abrasive film that never knows when to pull back the reins. It ends up being a movie I could never wrap my arms around.
Tracy Letts (who also penned the play) writes the screenplay and John Wells (better known for his television work) directs the film. It’s set in Osage County, Oklahoma during a sweltering hot August. Violet (Streep) is a mean and contentious women suffering from mouth cancer and a heavy addiction to pain pills. Her husband Beverly (Sam Shepard) is a calmer sort who seeks refuge in his books and liquor. One day Beverly hires a caretaker for his wife and soon after disappears.
Distraught over her husband’s disappearance, Violet calls in her family and a parade of family dysfunction follows. First to arrive is her sister Mattie Fae (Margo Martindale) and her husband Charles (Chris Cooper). Shortly after, Violet’s three daughters come. Barbara (Julia Roberts) is a shrill carbon copy of her mother. She’s at odds with her mom for leaving home and moving to Colorado. Karen (Juliette Lewis) is the spacy middle daughter who hasn’t been home in years. And there is Ivy (Julianne Nicholson), the youngest daughter and the only one who lives close to home. Each of these characters have a wheelbarrow full of flaws and baggage that all comes into play as the film moves along.
But if that assortment of maladjusted individuals wasn’t enough, we also have Barbara’s husband Bill (Ewan McGregor) who apparently has an eye for younger women and their daughter Jean (Abigail Breslin) who is bearing the fruits of their horrible parenting. Then there is Karen’s fiance Steve (Dermot Mulroney), a phoney and moral-free Florida businessman. Oh and then there is Charles and Mattie Fae’s awkward son Little Charles (Benedict Cumberbatch) who may have a weird little secret.
It’s almost impossible to like any of these people. With the exception of the caregiver, practically every character reveals an appalling secret, spits out hateful insults, or does something vile. And the film is relentless. It bludgeons you to death with one dysfunctional family scene after another. I found it to be smothering. The story never allows any breathing room or provides any variation with its characters. And the constant barrage of bad behavior and disgraceful revelations is a bit ridiculous. It’s as if Letts wants to trump one disgraceful act or insult with another. And so on and so on…
Again, the cast is a laundry list of big names and the performances are good. However many of the scenes are so big and the characters so loud that it can be difficult to really appreciate the performances. It’s one of those cases where the material hurts what the actors are doing. Streep is fine as the venom-tongued Violet but she is so big and brash. It’s definitely how the character is written but Streep does her share of scene chewing. Julia Roberts has been applauded for her work but it too is a loud and showy performance. Roberts is never overmatched by the character and she shows brilliance in some scenes. But the character is crassly written and some of her dialogue is so over the top. The other performances aren’t getting the same attention, but they’re generally good when the screenplay allows them to be.
I’ve heard that the stage version of “August: Osage County” is very good. Sadly I don’t think it has translated well to the big screen. This is a crude and unyielding adaptation that has a powerful and potent potential. The idea is appealing and every so often we get glimpses of what I hoped the film to be. Unfortunately I was put off by these characters, their endless dysfunction, and their profane spite. This was a tiresome watch and tough movie to endure. It’s a shame because with this much talent I was expecting more.
Keith & the Movies 
“It’s almost impossible to like any of these people.” Spot-on with that sentence my friend. Well, except for Little Charles, but I am extremely bias towards Cumberbatch.
And I’m not saying I always need a rooting interest. But these people keep revealing layer after layer of vileness. Truthfully, I just got tired of them all.
No, I know, fully understand. Just saying how well you summed up their characters. I don’t dislike this film, but it’s so hard to digest everything thrown at you. The acting is top-notch though.
Agreed on Little Charles. I think Ivy is likable, too. Also, Big Charles.
Ivy…well I guess she’s likable. She’s just twisted beyond repair. 😉
Oh yeah, I loved Chris Cooper in this. Come to think of it, I love him in everything lol.
Cooper is Rick solid here. He is a guy who always brings a lot to a film. Good, solid, and dependable actor. Lots of respect for him.
Great review Keith, and you know, despite the names on this cast I just couldn’t find the motivation to go see this. Your good word confirms that I’m not missing much at all
Thanks. There has been a mixed to positive response to this movie but I definitely couldn’t go with it.
Top review Keith. Seen very mixed things about this so I’m going to approach it with a little caution I think.
Thanks Chris. Hope you like it better than I did. I found it to be a full on frustration. It’s definitely not one I care to ever see again.
Many good points here.
Overall, I think the screenplay better than you do, and I think the performances solid. I see some of the same mistakes you do, but I think most of them come from the director, not the writer or actors.
I mostly agree about the actors. With the exception of some scene chewing the actors are doing exactly what the roles call for.
As for the directing, it’s funny you mention it. I told my wife that I can just see Wells saying “More, Bigger, Louder” during almost every scene.
Your excellent review was right on point with the issues I had with this movie. Sad to have such a cast and not give them room to grow.
Great minds…yadda, yadda, yadda! 😉
I’m with you. There is so much potential for a really good movie here. Thanks for the comments. Always appreciated.
Good review Keith. There are many good performances here, but it also seems like a lot of them are trying so hard to be “big”, “loud” and very showwy. Some of it’s entertaining to watch, but it does distract from whatever heart at the center of this movie’s core, it may have.
Thanks man. I found it very distracting and I started checking out. Finally I just wanted it to end.
I think you missed my guest post on this film this weekend. Ahah, funny that you have such a different opinion from hers. I’m more in the middle, I’d give it 3.5 probably as I thought the performances are great, though Meryl is not as great as the critics think nor would I nominate her for Best Actress. It’s the less showy performers like Julianne Nicholson, Margo Martindale and even Benedict Cumberbatch impressed me most, esp Cumberbatch as I’m a huge fan 🙂
I agree, Ruth. The quieter and more nuanced performances were quite impressive. Especially Cumberbatch and Nicholson. I actually gave this film high marks in my review.
Crap, I’m glad you mentioned that Ruth. I hit “like” and tried to bookmark it. I planned to go back and read it later. I did see her perfect score. I certainly respect the high praise but for me it was hard to make it through.
There were some good performances. But as I mentioned in my review, I don’t think the material helps the actors that much. I think my favorite out of the bunch was Chris Cooper. But then again he’s always good.
I just reviewed this movie, myself. I’m on the flip side of this one. I actually enjoyed it very much. You make some very valid points, though. Good job.
Hey, to each his own my friend. I know a lot of people are really liking this movie. I just don’t think I could sit through it again. It drove me nuts. LOL.
I wasn’t in love with this movie either, but what I did enjoy was Chris Cooper’s performance – he was wonderful and unlike many he had some subtle lovely moments.
Exactly!!!! I think he was the best of the group. I also think his character was the one that was given a little more room to breathe!
The trailers for this look kind of awesome – I love a good family drama – but it sounds like it doesn’t work.
The trailer did look good and I’m with you, a good family drama is a lot of fun. I just didn’t find this fun or entertaining. It wasn’t moving or tender.
You know, if I can’t care for the characters, it’s hard to stay with it. After a day of stress and negativity, the last thing I want to do is watch a bunch of negative, dysfunctional people on the screen. Great review, Keith
Thanks Cindy! This is nothing but dysfunction from the opening scene to the end credits. I can handle it as long as there seems to be a greater point. But I never got that at all here. Definitely a disappointment.
Hmmm, great review Keith! I must say I am not particularly wanting to see this, and you aren’t convincing me otherwise!
LOL. This was a huge waste of potential in my opinion. This should have been a better movie.
Nice review! It wasn’t a bad film, its just more of letting its actors say, “Hey, look at me! I can act, watch me act!”
It was a little overwhelming for me at times too. Nothing I’d watch again.
Thanks for the comments. I just wish it hit more than one note. It never seemed to do anything different from start to finish. By the end I just felt tired of the whole thing.
I can’t quite agree here brother! I actually really liked this. Bleak for sure and most of the characters were very unlikeable. Cooper, Cumberbatch and Nicholson were all quite appealing though but the dysfunctionality rips out them all. I really went with and thought both the writing and acting were extremely tight. Great review nonetheless my man.
No problems Mark. Many people liked this movie. Cooper may be the only likable character to me. BC and Nicholson weren’t unlikable in the same fashion as the other. They were just completely nuts!!! LOL
I really labored through this thing. There was hardly any variation in the characters and the attempts at dark comedy seldom worked for me. In the end I just couldn’t buy into any of these people.
I agree completely with your review. I’ll simply add that I wished that I hadn’t taken the time to watch it — far too depressing and over the top in a number of ways. If there was some redeeming value to the story, I missed it.
I’m with you. It’s a movie that I have revisited (or had an urge to revisit) since writing that review. I see what it could have been. Unfortunately…