Watch August: Osage County

The movie August: Osage County is a 2013 drama film that boasts of an all-star cast of actors and actresses such as Meryl Streep, Dermot Mulroney, and Julia Roberts. The film is directed by John Wells and is based on Tracy Letts' Pulitzer Prize-winning play of the same name. The storyline is set in a small town in rural Oklahoma, where the Weston family comes together for a family reunion following the mysterious disappearance of their patriarch, Beverly Weston. Their strong-willed and pill-popping mother Violet Weston, played by Meryl Streep, presides over the gathering and soon sparks tensions with her three daughters, Barbara, Karen, and Ivy, played by Julia Roberts, Juliette Lewis, and Julianne Nicholson, respectively.

With a backdrop of bigotry, addiction, and family dysfunction, the emotions and tensions that run high among the family members are brought to the fore. Barbara, Karen, and Ivy have their secrets and resentments, and over the course of the film, the family's history, secrets, and many conflicts are brought to light.

Through the use of flashbacks, we see the dynamics of the family and their individual struggles. Violet's abuse of prescription drugs and alcohol causes some particularly brutal exchanges between her and her daughters.

The acting in August: Osage County is exceptional, especially that of Meryl Streep, who delivers a powerful and gritty performance as the matriarch of the Weston family. Streep's portrayal of Violet Weston is both menacing and vulnerable, and her ability to balance both aspects of her character is remarkable. Julia Roberts, in her role as Barbara, also gives an outstanding performance, portraying the perfect combination of strength and vulnerability.

Dermot Mulroney also delivers an admirable performance as Steve Heidebrecht, Karen's fiancé who comes off as the odd one out among the family members during the reunion. Chris Cooper, who plays Charles Aiken, Violet's brother-in-law, delivers a nuanced performance, especially during his conversation with Barbara, which reveals one of the family's darkest secrets.

The film's screenplay is well-crafted, and the use of flashbacks is particularly effective in giving context and depth to the characters and the family's history. However, the film's pacing is slow, and the two-hour runtime may feel too long for some viewers.

The cinematography in August: Osage County is well-done, with the film's setting in Oklahoma providing stunning scenery. The use of warm colors and natural lighting in the film is also noteworthy, making the scenes feel authentic and intimate.

Overall, August: Osage County is a dramatic and emotionally heavy film that showcases the complexities of family relationships and the deep-seated tensions that can arise within them. The film's incredible performances by its all-star cast, particularly that of Meryl Streep, elevate the movie to a must-watch.

August: Osage County is a 2013 comedy. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.2 and a MetaScore of 58.