August: Osage County

August: Osage County

Rated R and Released in Grand Rapids 1/10/14

Reviewed 1/10/14 at Celebration North in Grand Rapids, MI

with Cindy

2 1/2 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

If you are feeling down about your family being dysfunctional, I am suggesting you see this film because it will make you feel as everything is picture perfect. This is a dark movie they tout as a comedy. There are lots of funny moments, but the darkness is overpowering so a drama with some comedy would be more appropriate. Meryl Streep is amazing as aging and terminally ill Violet Weston. Boy can they make Streep look bad! She would win an Oscar for that alone. Julia Roberts of course is the other obvious stand out as her daughter Barbara Weston. While these two superior actresses supply the drama, there are two pleasant surprises in their supporting roles that are amusing at every turn, even all the while being crude and rude. Juliette Lewis as the youngest of the three daughters of Violet, plus free spirit Karen and Margo Martindale playing the edgy sharp tongued sister of Violet, Mattie Fae Aiken, both add a needed balance to the cast.

Even though the "scene" doesn't change much from the home of the Westons, much goes on in the story. Prescription drug addicted Violet and her boozy husband Beverly Weston (Sam Shepard) - yes his name is Beverly - are one of those couples that "can't live with ya and can't live without ya". Violet is about as nasty to Beverly as they can get. Beverly seems to excuse her because of her illness and addiction - to an extent. Turning to alcohol over the years have helped them cope, but which came first? His drinking or his wife's drug abuse? Apparently he's had enough when he disappears and then all the family is called in. While trying to rally around their mother, the police discover that dad has drowned while out fishing, apparently taking his own life. Let the dysfunction begin. The day of the funeral is just another excuse for Violet to keep being vicious to everyone - no one's exempt. Barbara rallies the household and gets rid of mom's drugs and attempts to pull things together.

The dinner table or the front porch are not safe havens as dirty laundry is being spilled and all kinds of confessions are divulged. Kissing cousins, paternity issues, marital affairs and broken marriages. Pile it on - it just keeps getting better. Nothing gets past Violet as she spews more than once, she knows all. The group all can't wait to get away from her and out of this mess to get back to their own chaos. They all decide which to do, but very abruptly. Disappointingly the movie ends too sharply with no tidy little conclusion. There were stellar performances, but this is a film that certainly won't appeal to everyone. Just know what you're getting into if you choose to see August: Osage County.

QUIET Rating system: 2 ½ Js

Quality: JJJj

Understood story:  JJJj

Interest: JJ

Entertainment:  JJ

Time:  Jj