August: Osage County - A Movie Review

All families have dramas.

August: Osage County arrived in theaters in 2013. After the patriarch's death, the dysfunctional Weston family gathers at their Oklahoma home. Conversations, secrets, and arguments emerge during this heated time.

Do you sigh a breath of relief when you see family dysfunction on the big screen? I revisited August: Osage County after a decade, and the film’s themes were very different for me. Family is family, but you have to learn your boundaries.

Back when I watched this film for the first time, I didn’t have much knowledge about the actors involved. Several actors were considered for roles before casting chose Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Dermot Mulroney, Juliette Lewis, Chris Cooper, Ewan McGregor, Abigail Breslin, and Margo Martindale.

Each actor has standout scenes, especially Roberts. Roberts plays Barbara, the eldest of the Weston sisters. Whether she likes it or not, Barbara has always been the glue that keeps the family together. She has endured more darkness and hardships compared to her sisters.

Meryl Streep is a magnificent actress. She plays the unbearable and unpleasant matriarch, Violet. Streep is astounding in any performance. Violet is a despicable woman who says vile things. Despite tensions between their characters, Roberts was overcome with joy to work with Streep, who is her favorite actress.

Martindale is a talented character actress who has built up her career in supporting roles. I have enjoyed looking through her career portfolio. There are so many films I didn’t realize she was in.

During filming, the cast lived together in condos that were an hour away from the set. This was Streep’s own idea for the cast to get a feel of their character’s relationships and develop quirks and backstories for their characters.

My grandmother and I always enjoy a chaotic dinner scene. August: Osage County has an award-winning chaotic dinner scene where everybody is fighting like wild animals on the ground. This scene, among several, is well-directed by John Wells. The scene required several takes in three days. Streep compared the scene to preparing for the Olympics.

The film was adapted from Tracy Letts’ stage play. The story is based on his own life about his family and a similar tragedy in the film. Streep’s character Violet was inspired by his grandmother. It’s always a good idea to start with what you know for stories.

Wells saw the play on Broadway and was offered to direct the film version. The experience was amazing, and he learned a lot during this time.

In pre-production, filmmakers scouted for a location in Oklahoma. They bought the Boulanger family home, a 1918 house, and redecorated it for the film. Even the location had to pretend that it was a hot summer month when it was really a chilly fall period. After digging up and replanting a 100-year-old oak tree, production painted all the leaves green.

I watched August: Osage County at two different periods of my life. The first was when I was 18, right after experiencing a family tragedy, and most recently now at the age of 30. Movies make a difference when you watch them. I understood more of the family dynamics and the message.

Truth and taking your own route are themes in August: Osage County. It’s tough, but you need to go your own way. Family has its priorities, but one needs to know their limits and boundaries.

Not everyone will enjoy August: Osage County because of its disheartened storyline and vile characters, but it makes you think openly about life and family. Find it streaming on Tubi.