Director John Wells has truly outdone himself with his latest film, August: Osage County. Julia Roberts’ and Meryl Streep’s performances were incredibly gripping, keeping the audience laughing while still on the edge of their seats following the story’s intense drama. That being said, this certainly isn’t a movie for anyone seeking a typical family drama. Addiction, incest, suicide, and many other devastating issues plague the Weston family, bringing out the some of the harsh realities of living in rural Oklahoma.
Meryl Streep plays Violet, a lonely, aging woman who numbs her emotions will prescription painkillers. The audience’s emotions continuously waver back and forth, one moment feeling the hopelessness her character faces and the next laughing hysterically at the ridiculous things she says while high.
Julia Roberts’ performance as her daughter Barbara is equally impressive. Being forced back together with her ex-husband, eccentric sisters, and addicted mother in the heat of the Oklahoma summer pushed her over the edge multiple times in the film. In my opinion, the highlight of the movie was definitely when Julia Robert’s character tackled Meryl Streep to the ground. The best part is that they didn’t even use stunt doubles for that scene.
Whether it’s for the intense drama, the hilarious moments, or the artistic screenplay and amazing soundtrack, if August: Osage County has peaked your interest, you should definitely go see it.