#TIFF13: “AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY”

A Family Crisis brings the Women of the Weston Family together once again and it isn’t long before they realize why it is that they have distanced themselves from the one Woman responsible for raising them and how it is they each are a reflection of her dysfunction.  Based upon the Pullitzer Prize-winning Play by Tracy Letts, August: Osage County made its World Premiere at TIFF ’13 and after being in awe of its Trailer, I can say the Family Drama delivers almost on every level.

Violet Weston (Meryl Streep) battles an addiction to Prescription Pills and upon reuniting with her Daughters, each are subject to her cruel scrutiny.  A hardened Barbara (Julia Roberts) and her Husband Bill (Ewan McGregor) are on the verge of separation visiting Violet‘s Oklahoma home, while the vivacious Karen (Juliette Lewis) thinks she has found happiness with her Fiancé Steve (Dermot Mulroney). The soft-spoken Ivy (Julianne Nicholson) is forced to conceal her relationship with First Cousin Charles (Benedict Cumberbatch).

Driven by phenomenal performances by Streep as the terrifyingly-vicious Matriarch, August: Osage County reads like a juicy Page Turner.  All eyes are on the Cinema Queen at every moment and we watch with fascination as her anger seeps to the surface and completely consumers her and her Family.  The Film is a fearless examination of boundaries crossed and the cycle of cruelty without a weak link in its immensely-talented Ensemble.  Roberts delivers her best work in quite some time, humanistic despite being burdened with all of Barbara‘s frustrations with her Daughter Jean (Abigail Breslin), Husband and her Mother.  Margo Martindale as Violet‘s Sister, Mattie Fae as always delivers with conviction, pairing together well with Chris Cooper‘s quiet strength as Charles.

Despite a lack of real answers late in the Film and also a few moments where the language of the Play is challenged negotiating its translation to the Big Screen, August: Osage County without a doubt will be a major Player this Awards Season. 

eOne Films releases on Friday, January 10, 2014.