As you know, I've been doing my very best to see all the Oscar nominated films before the awards show broadcast on Sunday March 2nd. While I was home in Miami two weeks ago my mother and I saw August Osage County starring Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts.
From all the awards season buzz about the film I already knew a bit about the premise and knew that it wasn't exactly going to be lighthearted or fun.
Meryl Streep proved once again she is one of America's greatest actresses in this role as matriarch Violet Weston. Her house, normally occupied by just her and her husband (played by the wonderful Sam Shepard), becomes packed with her three daughters and their families when they return home to mourn the death of their father.
Rather than comfort her grieving children, Violet uses this time to rip into each of her girls in a way that is so brutal and ruthless it hurts in your chest.
Her daughters think they are rising above it, especially her oldest, Barbara (played by Julia Roberts), but it turns out that Barbara is just a mini-mom. Watching Barbara make the horrifying realization that she has become her mother is . . . painful.
Also painful is the story line of the youngest daughter, Ivy (played by Julianne Nicholson), who learns some devastating truths about her childhood and her love life all in the very same moment. She plays opposite a very meek Benedict Cumberbatch.
Juliette Lewis plays her typical airhead character as middle sister Karen. Her fiancé is played by My Best Friend's Wedding dreamboat Dermot Mulroney.
The supporting cast is phenomenal with Ewan McGregor as Barbara's soon-to-be ex-husband, Abigail Breslin as their brooding teenage daughter, and Chris Cooper as the level-headed uncle.
One of my favorite scenes in the movie is when Abigail's character, Jean, tries to explain to her midwest family why she's a vegetarian. As a veg myself, I was howling laughing. It's also freakish how much she does actually look like a young Julia Roberts.
As I said at the start, there is nothing happy about August Osage County. Most of the story takes place around the dining room table and it's nearly two hours of these people who are supposed to love each other just firing shots. This story was a play originally and you can tell how powerful it would be live in the theater.
Despite the depressing tone, I did make one happy discovery, the song that plays during the end credits, "Last Mile Home" by Kings of Leon. Take a listen here.
Personally, I think Meryl and Julia both deserve Oscars. They both gave brutally honest performances. I'll be cheering for them from my couch on March 2nd!
Did you see the movie? What did you think?
