There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

I can just picture the faces of the actors as they envisioned receiving what must have seemed like inevitable Oscars for their performances in this movie. I wonder if they could picture the faces of their audience subjected to what became nothing more than an unforgivable assault on their senses. On no level are the characters in Osage County worthy of the time or money it cost to see this film. I've enjoyed many a dark movie as well as great performances by the actors in Osage County and yet I was actually angry with myself for suffering through this nonsense to the bitter end. This is THE movie that taught me to protect myself by walking out of a theater when a movie spews misery without justification.

I've seen this movie about a dozen times, and I've tried for a long time to articulate just what bothers me about it. What I LIKE about it is easy: awkward family scenes are enjoyable to me for some reason. The acting was incredible, as you'd expect from anything Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts. I even like that it examines situational ethics, such as:Would it be excusable to cheat if your wife is a cold, raging b*tch? What about committing suicide to get away from the obligation of taking care of your cantankerous, drug addicted wife? Should first cousins be acceptable as a couple if one or both are sterile?How young is "too young" for a man to begin a sexual relationship with a young woman?However, I feel the writers took it too far at times, almost excusing away the character's behavior through dialogue. For example, there's a reason that the dope-smoking daughter is 14- going-on-30; her age is supposed to conflict with her looks and maturity, making us second guess whether we think it was really WRONG of Karen's fiancée to hit on her, especially if she was willing. Karen went into a pathetic rant right before she left with Steve about Jean (the 14 year old) being partially responsible, and how it's a grey area. It's not.Violet belligerently attacked almost everyone at the funeral dinner and when Barb protested, she told her she knew nothing about REAL attacks, citing her terrible childhood. No one really shut her down here and she went on quite a long tirade which always feels to me like the writer was expressing their OWN views here, and I'm sorry, but no matter how rotten your childhood was, it doesn't give you an excuse to treat others like crap. Yet another moment where it felt like they tried to ask the audience, "Is it okay to behave badly IF...?" Later, it's revealed that Aunt Mattie Fey had an affair with Beverly, resulting in a Little Charles. She goes into this self- righteous dialogue about how she's "more than just your fat Aunt Mattie Fae...there's more to me than that." That, I assume, was supposed to imply that because the situation is more complicated than it may appear, that makes it somehow excusable. Finally, if you weren't uncomfortable enough by the romantic relationship between first cousins, the writer pushes it a step further to test your tolerance: the first cousins are actually half- siblings.The whole movie felt like one ethics test after another, which is fine, except that the writer also inserted their own answers to the tests through their characters, and I completely disagree with ALL of their conclusions.

I was looking forward to watching this movie for a long time. It is finally available on Netflix. I must say, I am disappointed. I felt like i was watching nearly 2.5 hours of screaming and a Meryl Streep trying way too hard to portray a junkie. Plus, it really look like both Mrs. Streep and Roberts were battling for screen time. Benedict Cumberbach should not accept roles that require him to take on a different accent. His accent is too strong. I did love Juliette Lewis' character. She is an underrated actress in Hollywood, in my opinion. The story, however, was hard to follow. I am sure the play is better and more insightful.

August: Osage County takes an outstanding script and layers in an A-list ensemble cast at the top of their game. The result is a compelling, complex narrative with gripping performances, that talks to the universal experience of family, growing old, and hypocrisy. When aging alcoholic grandfather Bev passes away suddenly, the extended family gather for the funeral and old grievances are aired once more, along with revelations that both delight and disappoint. Streep ranges from lost to laser-like vitriol, plausible in every beat, while Roberts is immense, completely dispensing with her American sweetheart persona, managing to go through the whole film without smiling once. The ensemble cast performances are all flawless, though the writing flags with one character, a playboy boyfriend included mostly for comic effect. His sports car blasting of pop tunes driving to a funeral seems inauthentic rather than idiotic, and his predatory motions towards a teenage girl seems forced and plays out with no surprises whatsoever. It is a surprising one-note caricature in a gallery of rounded, identifiable and all too human characters. The film is peppered with painfully accurate moments, in particular a resplendent dinner scene where the tensions boil over spectacularly. A story that will resonate universally, told simply and elegantly. Superb.